The completion deadline for Mangaluru city’s Jalasiri 24×7 drinking water supply project, initially set for May 2024, is set to be extended once again. This project, funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and implemented by Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development and Finance Corporation (KUIDFC) under the Karnataka Integrated Urban Water Management Investment Programme (KIUWMIP), commenced its second phase in 2019 with an estimated cost of Rs 792 crore.
Originally slated for completion by May 2023, the project has faced delays, prompting KUIDFC to seek an extension until December 2025. According to Premanand Shetty, Mangaluru City Corporation council chief whip, significant portions of the project remain unfinished. Of the planned 1,280km of pipeline, only about 700km have been laid, and out of 19 overhead tanks proposed, only four are completed.
A key component of the project includes a 125 MLD capacity water treatment plant near the Adyar-Harekala dam, costing Rs 128 crore, which requires an additional 18 months for completion. The extension request is pending government approval.
Challenges persist regarding the integration of existing and new pipeline networks across the city’s more than 50 zones designated for the new distribution network. Additionally, of the 96,000 digital water meters acquired, only 6,000 are currently operational in households.
Once completed, the project aims to increase Mangaluru’s water supply from 160 MLD to 236.6 MLD, ensuring improved water accessibility and reliability for residents.