KMC approaches state Urban Development dept for funds to repair embankment at Palta.
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has requested the state Urban Development department to provide funds to maintain the embankment at Palta where the country’s oldest water treatment plant is situated after the Centre refused to give financial assistance.
Earlier, the civic authorities had approached the Centre to provide funds under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission ( JnNURM) to repair the embankment as soil erosion has affected the boundary wall of the 153-year-old water treatment plant.
Repair works will start immediately once the funds are made available, civic officials said.
In every urban local body, this old method is being followed, that is, raw water being lifted and then purified and supplied to individual households with the help of pipes.
In the water treatment plant situated in New Town, raw water from river Hooghly being lifted and then taken to the treatment centre situated 17.5 km away with the help of underground pipes.
The Palta water works was the first station to purify and supply drinking water in Asia.
After the administrative power came under the British Government from the East Indian Company in 1858, plans were made in 1859 to set up the water works but the construction could not be started due to shortage of funds.
The British had selected Palta and constructed the water works because of its geographical position.
The course of the river takes the shape of a semi circle near Palta and so water is purified through a natural process during high tide.