Ludhiana: A high-level delegation from the World Bank visited Ludhiana for two days to review the progress of the World Bank and AIIB-funded canal-based water supply project. The delegation, led by task team leader (TTL) Rosanna Nitty, held meetings with senior officials and inspected multiple project sites to assess on-ground work.Senior officers, including chief engineer Ravinder Garg, SE Parul Goyal, SE Sham Lal Gupta, project manager Gurvinder Pal Singh, PMIDC environment and social manager Badal Soni, and PMIDC social development specialist Sumit Arora, along with technical and field staff, participated in the discussions and inspections.
The team reviewed major components of the project such as the under-construction 580 MLD water treatment plant (WTP) at Bilga village, ongoing overhead water reservoir (OHSR) works, and various stretches where pipelines are being laid across the city. Officials said that within 11 months of commencement, the project has achieved 22% physical progress, a pace that the World Bank delegation appreciated.The delegation also reviewed compliance with environmental, health, and safety (EHS) protocols and expressed satisfaction with mechanisms in place. It was noted that crucial documents related to environmental and social safeguards had already been approved by the World Bank, reaffirming adherence to global standards and sustainable practices.Civic officials said the project is progressing swiftly, with the project monitoring committee (PMC) conducting regular reviews to expedite work. They added that continuous monitoring is helping maintain momentum across all components of the project.MSID:: 128259840 413 |
