Kolkata speeds up clean water project

kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) is accelerating efforts to expand its surface water infrastructure, targeting boroughs that continue to rely heavily on borewell extraction.

The civic body is currently drawing an estimated 40 million gallons of groundwater daily to meet the water needs of residents in densely populated neighbourhoods such as Tollygunge, Jadavpur, Behala, Garia, and several pockets flanking the Eastern Metropolitan (EM) Bypass. This long-standing reliance is now being seen as environmentally unsustainable, prompting a decisive civic push toward surface water solutions.The ongoing drive, led by the KMC’s water supply department, focuses on fast-tracking key augmentation projects, particularly those linked to treatment and distribution infrastructure. A flagship initiative under this plan is the expansion of the Jai Hind Water Treatment Plant, commonly known as the Dhapa plant.

Currently delivering 30 million gallons of filtered water per day, the plant plays a critical role in serving over 8 lakh residents residing along the EM Bypass. To scale up operations and reduce the burden on groundwater, KMC has earmarked a ₹100 crore investment to enhance its capacity by an additional 20 million gallons per day.The expansion is projected to benefit several under-served neighbourhoods, including Topsia, Anandapur, Kasba, Naskarhat, Madurdaha, and Kalikapur, where water shortages and groundwater reliance remain persistent. Officials suggest that the ramp-up will bring a much-needed buffer against seasonal scarcities, while also aligning with broader sustainability goals.

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As part of the same strategic thrust, the corporation is simultaneously executing a new 10-million-gallon water treatment plant near the Dhalai Bridge in New Garia. Once operational, this facility is expected to serve the southern stretches of the city, particularly Bypass-adjacent zones and the Garia-Jadavpur corridor.
Kolkata’s current water stress reflects a wider urban problem seen across Indian cities, where population growth, unregulated borewell drilling, and climate-linked rainfall inconsistencies have together created an acute strain on aquifers. Industry experts and environmental planners have repeatedly flagged this situation as a ticking ecological time bomb. In this context, KMC’s surface water augmentation drive is being viewed as both timely and critical.

It offers not only the promise of improved access for underserved communities but also a chance to transition towards a more resilient and zero-carbon urban infrastructure framework.With pressure mounting from both state environmental norms and community advocacy, the civic leadership appears keen to make good on its promise of equitable water access. The projects are being closely monitored for timely completion, and officials confirm that funding, procurement, and contractor mobilisation have already been streamlined. However, while policy direction and financial commitment are in place, on-ground execution remains a litmus test.

Ensuring uninterrupted coordination across departments and avoiding bureaucratic bottlenecks will be vital for these plans to translate into meaningful, long-term change.In a city where water has long been a divisive civic issue, this renewed focus on sustainable supply networks carries broader implications. It not only underscores the shifting priorities of municipal governance but also reflects an evolving public sentiment that is increasingly conscious of environmental limits and urban equity. If executed well, Kolkata’s surface water pivot could become a model of climate-resilient planning in South Asia’s urban landscape.

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Kolkata speeds up clean water project