Clean Water on Tap: Amritsar Bulk Water Scheme Nears Completion

A three-member delegation from the Ministry of Jal Shakti recently visited the Valla-based site of the Amritsar Bulk Water Supply Scheme (ABWSS) to evaluate the project’s progress. Implemented under the Jal Shakti Abhiyan and spearheaded by the Punjab Government, the initiative aims to provide Amritsar residents with a continuous supply of clean drinking water by transitioning from groundwater dependence to surface water drawn from the Upper Bari Doab Canal (UBDC).

During the site visit, Senior Construction Manager Ashwani Sharma briefed the delegation—which included Bhart Bhushan Verma (Deputy CEO, Jal Shakti Abhiyan), Dr. Shashikant (Scientist), and Satnam Singh (District Nodal Officer)—on the scheme’s major components. These include a 440 million litres per day (MLD) water treatment plant, a 112-kilometre distribution pipeline, 45 newly constructed water storage tanks, and the renovation of 24 existing tanks.

The Deputy CEO highlighted that the project will contribute significantly to groundwater conservation and long-term water sustainability in the region. Once operational, ABWSS will deliver round-the-clock, ISO-standard water supply, supported by SCADA-based real-time monitoring, replacing the city’s current intermittent service model.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.