Pic: A elevated level surface reservoir of capacity 0.5 million litres has been constructed at Lakhamanahalli, DharwadHubballi: The state govt has approved a two-year extension for the completion of the ambitious 24/7 drinking water supply project for Hubballi-Dharwad. The project, which was awarded to a private firm, could not be completed within the original timeframe due to multiple delays. While the company had sought an extension until June 2028 six months ago, the govt, after reviewing the progress, directed that continuous water supply must be ensured by June 2027.Sources said the project faced setbacks from the outset. A three-month extension was granted in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, followed by delays in the handover of the water distribution system by the water board. Land acquisition issues along the main pipeline route for clean water supply further hampered progress, affecting the overall execution of the project.Savita Katigennavar, superintending engineer, KUIDFC, told TOI that the project, which commenced in March 2020, had achieved only 55% progress over five-and-a-half years, up to Dec 2025. “The challenge now is to complete the remaining 45% in the given period,” she said. Katigennavar added that major components such as the water pipeline from Savadatti to Amminabhavi, the water purification unit at Amminabhavi, the main pipeline from Amminabhavi to Rayapur, and the construction of above-ground and ground-level reservoirs in Hubballi and Dharwad are nearing completion and are expected to be finished within the next two to three months. “Despite constant challenges, we are confident of completing the project by June 2027,” she said.She further explained that the house-to-house water distribution network spans 1,688 km. Of this, 1,021 km (about 60%) of pipelines have been laid, while 667km are yet to be completed. Continuous water supply is already being provided in parts of Morarji Nagar (Lohia Nagar) in Hubballi and in Navalur, and trial runs have been conducted in eight areas. The project aims to provide tap connections to 120,586 houses, but so far only 34,211 houses have been connected.Katigennavar said the 29.5-km raw water main from Savadatti Jackwell to Amminabhavi has been completed. Of the 14 upper-level reservoirs planned, 11 have been completed, two are under construction, and land is being identified for the remaining one. The construction of nine ground-level tanks is almost complete, she added.
