New 200MLD plant will help meet drinking water needs: Min

Panaji:Phal Dessai said the state required an investment of Rs 2,100 crore over a period of 10 years to ensure the supply of drinking water to the people of the state for the next 25 years, and that he has moved the proposal.He noted that 700 MLD of water is treated in the state, but around 300 MLD is wasted. That, he said, is around 40% and he plans to reduce it to 20%.Phal Dessai explained that once the 200 MLD plants are set up and leakages are addressed, the water requirement of the state would be met. “As of now, the state requires over 650 MLD of water,” he said.Phal Dessai highlighted the need for significant funds for the drinking water department and planned to secure some funds from central govt, as well as from the World Bank and the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard). “We have estimated an investment of Rs 2,100 crore to replace the existing cement pipeline, which is 40 to 60 years old. We will approach the World Bank and Nabard for funds that would be invested over a period of 10 years, and it will take care of the state’s drinking water needs for the next 25 years,” Phal Dessai said, adding that some proposals have already been sent to financial institutions.