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 budget session of the Tripura Assembly, 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 since 2018, new treatment facilities have been completed to enhance supply, including a 5.50 MLD plant at Master Para and a 3 MLD plant at College Tilla.
Addressing concerns about occasional dirty water supply, the Chief Minister explained that such issues arise during infrastructure work, such as road repairs, laying cables or gas pipelines, and drainage construction, which can inadvertently damage pipelines.
“Immediate repairs are made to restore normal supply,” he said, adding that such disruptions are temporary and promptly resolved by the concerned departments.
Saha informed the assembly 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 currently, only about 10.06% is being utilized.
He further stated that groundwater is 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 supplement their supply 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.