Work has begun to set up a water treatment plant on the banks of river Damodar, a welcome development for the over 5 lakh residents of Jharia who face regular disruption in water supply.

A boundary wall is being constructed for a water treatment plant on the banks of the Damodar. It is part of a comprehensive plan, worth Rs 310 crore, to replace the existing pipeline where leaks spring up regularly, leading to perennial problems for Jharia residents.

“Besides replacing existing pipelines from the Jamadoba water treatment to the tank at Bhagatdih and again from Bhagatdih to Dhansar, we will be constructing an intake well at Jamadoba on the bank of river Damodar. Additionally, we will also construct eight water treatment plants at various places in Jharia, Jamadoba and Dhansar,” said secretary and technical member of civic body Jharkhand Mineral Area Development Authority (JMADA) Indresh Shukla.

Shukla said survey work for the project had been completed. “The work of replacing the pipeline, as well as constructing intake wells and the water treatment plants is being handled by Mumbai based agency, JMC Projects. These should be completed in two years,” he said.

Shukla said that out of the eight water treatment plants, seven would be to treat mine pit water, while the one at Jamadoba will be used for treatment and supply of water from the Damodar.

JMADA supplies more than 176 lakh litre from the Damodar river through its Jamadoba treatment complex to Jharia and Katras. Of this, around 105 lakh litre water is supplied to Jharia and its adjoining areas through a 12 million gallon per day capacity water treatment plant.

The remaining water, around 71 lakh litre, is supplied to Kendua, Putki, Moonidih and other areas of Katras.

The pump house at Jamadoba Gautam Dey

This apart, JMADA also supplies around 25 lakh litre water per day to various parts of Katras, like Katras Bazar, Rani Bazar, Malkera Sijua, through the Topchanchi lake constructed way back in 1924.

As the supply pipeline from Jamadoba to Jharia, laid more than 50 years ago, has faced wear and tea, leakages are frequent. When that happens, supply is disrupted along with considerable wastage.

Some localities like Baniahir and Surratand did not get water supply for over two months due to decrease in water pressure in the main pipeline because of the leaks.