Mangaluru: Although construction of the new 125 MLD water treatment plant (WTP) in Adyar is nearing completion, the Mangaluru city corporation (MCC) lacks funds to expand the city’s distribution network. With the current infrastructure limited to an old 80 MLD capacity, the city will be unable to deliver the additional water to residents until a matching 125 MLD pipeline is built. A 125 MLD capacity WTP is being built at Adyar at an estimated cost of Rs 128 crore. The project is designed to draw 125 MLD of water to meet the city’s projected population in 2051 and is expected to be completed by April 2027.MCC commissioner Rahul Ratnam Pandey said that looking at the 2051 population projections, the city needs more water. Hence, new WTP, jackwell overhead tanks and reservoirs are being developed, he said.“Even though this new plant is 125 MLD, we can only supply up to 80 MLD because of the pipeline’s limitations. Therefore, we need to upgrade the pipeline capacity from Adyar to the city. Currently, the city corporation does not have funds allocated for this purpose. We either have to take a loan or get a grant from the govt,” the commissioner explained.The city corporation needs to assess this, as it will not get that much amount directly from cess, and the loan repayment might be difficult, he said.“I have asked for a study on how much loan can be raised and what estimate is required. Next time when the state cabinet session happens in Mangaluru, we will send a proposal through the minister UT Khader because this is a much needed project. We might not need all of it immediately, but in the next 5 years, as demand increases, we will have to utilise the full 125 MLD. The city corporation can use the existing 80 MLD, but to utilise the extra 45 MLD, the pipeline needs replacement. The MCC will submit a proposal to the state govt through the minister,” he added.
