Agartala, March 19: Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha announced on Thursday that pure drinking water is now being supplied across all 51 wards of the Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC), supported by a comprehensive network of treatment and iron-removal plants.
Speaking on the fifth day of the Tripura Assembly’s budget session, Saha stated that the urban water supply system has been significantly strengthened, with 31 iron-removal plants ensuring safe drinking water in municipal areas.
He highlighted that new treatment facilities have been completed since 2018 to enhance supply, including a 5.50 MLD plant in Master Para and a 3 MLD plant in College Tilla.
Addressing concerns about occasional dirty water supply, the Chief Minister explained that such issues arise during infrastructure works, such as road repairs or laying cables and gas pipelines, which can inadvertently damage the pipelines.
He assured that immediate repairs are made to restore normal supply and emphasized that these disruptions are temporary, with relevant departments addressing them promptly.
Saha informed the house that the AMC has launched a ‘Clean Your Tank’ campaign to promote cleanliness and safe water storage methods among residents.
Water supply management in AMC areas is handled by the Tripura Water Board through the DWS division in Agartala and four sub-divisions. Currently, 13 surface water treatment plants, 31 modified iron-removal plants, and six packaged iron-removal units supply water daily.
Regarding water sources, the Chief Minister noted that approximately 25% of the supply comes from surface water, mainly from the Howrah River, while 75% is sourced from groundwater, which contains iron.
Citing data from the Central Ground Water Board, Saha mentioned that up to 60.60% of groundwater resources can be safely extracted, but only about 10.06% is currently being utilized.
He further stated that groundwater remains the primary source of drinking water in the state.
With an estimated population of around 579,000 in the AMC, the total daily water requirement is approximately 78.22 million liters, based on AMRUT guidelines (135 liters per person per day).
The Chief Minister added that many families meet their supply needs through deep tube wells and pumps.
To ensure safety, water quality monitoring has been strengthened, with members of self-help groups under the ‘Amrit Mitra’ initiative conducting door-to-door water testing in all wards. They also raise awareness among residents about the importance of cleaning water storage tanks every six months.