Narmada Phase 4 push, 1500 km network planned:1.8 km pipeline needed daily, water to reach hundreds of areas including bypass

To meet Indore’s growing water demand, the fourth phase of the Narmada project has been launched. The plan promises a 24-hour water supply, but completing this Rs 2,500 crore project by 2029 remains a major challenge. The project aims to lay 1,500 km of water distribution pipelines and 57 km of feeder lines within 30 months. However, after initial delays, only about 28 months, or nearly 840 days, are left for the actual work to begin and finish. This means that every day, about 1.8 km of distribution pipelines and 70 metres of feeder lines must be laid to meet the target. Along with this, 40 new water tanks are also planned. Each tank will take around 18 months to build, so work on all tanks must begin at the same time to avoid delays. Funding is another big concern. Out of the total Rs 2,500 crore cost, the government is expected to provide Rs 800 crore. The remaining Rs 1,700 crore will have to be arranged by the municipal corporation through loans. For this, approval will have to be taken from Bhopal. Tenders and work orders have been issued. Under the project, the city will receive an additional 450 MLD of water from Narmada. For this, a 38.85 km long gravity main line, tunnel, new tanks, feeder lines, and a large distribution network are to be prepared across the city from Vanchoo Point to Indore. A new intake well will also be built at Vanchoo Point. The corporation has divided the work into four packages, of which the main fieldwork is currently in the initial preparation phase. However, it may take about two more months for large-scale work to begin within the city. It is clear that if the work does not proceed simultaneously on multiple fronts, the 2029 deadline could remain only on paper. Meanwhile, the Amrit-1 project took seven years to complete. 800 crore from the government, the rest as a loan meaning the burden of debt on the corporation will increase, along with water The most important and sensitive part of this entire scheme is its financial model. Out of this total project of Rs 2500 crore, about Rs 800 crore is to be received from the state government, while the remaining amount will have to be raised by the municipal corporation by taking a loan. 450 MLD additional water will be available, but the challenge is to deliver it to every part of the city The corporation claims that after the fourth phase of Narmada, Indore will get 450 MLD of additional water. This increase is being made keeping in mind the future needs of the city, as Narmada water is still not reaching many parts of the city regularly. Colonies have rapidly developed in areas like Bypass, Rau, Super Corridor, and outer expansion areas. Out of these, more than 250 colonies have either incomplete or weak water supply till now. In such a situation, the fourth phase is not just a project to bring additional water, but a plan to reorganize the entire city’s water distribution infrastructure. Currently, there are 105 water tanks in the city. Along with these, 40 new tanks will be added, meaning a total of 145 tanks will cover an area of approximately 276 sq km. Additionally, about 2.47 lakh new domestic connections will also be provided in this phase. It is also necessary to replace old lines, otherwise, the dream of a 24-hour water supply will be stalled again The corporation is calling this project a big step towards a 24/7 water supply. The plan includes not only laying new lines but also replacing about 550 km of old pipelines, DMA system, NRW control, and reducing line loss. It is currently estimated that about 20 percent of the water in the city is lost due to line loss. A new network is being built to reduce this loss, but a big question is also attached to this claim. Because the work of changing 900 km of line in the Amrit-1 scheme could not be completed even in seven years. To complete the much larger and more complex network of Narmada Phase IV in two and a half to three years, the work will have to be accounted for every day. Narmada water will reach these areas for the first time