Ganga Water Supply Scheme (GWSS)

Ganga water project in Bihar,India

Ganga Water Supply Scheme

Ganga water reservoir at Montenje, Nawada

Pipeline to transport ganga water

Location
Country| India
State| Bihar
Province| Gaya, Bodhgaya, Nawada, Rajgir
Coordinates| 25°21′57″N 85°59′14″E﻿ / ﻿25.36583°N 85.98722°E﻿ / 25.36583; 85.98722
General information
Type| water
Installer of pipes| Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited (MEIL)
Technical information
Length| 190.90 km (118.62 mi)

Ganga Water Supply Scheme (GWSS) earlier know as Ganga Water Lift Project (GWLP) (गंगाजल उद्वह परियोजना (Hindi)) is a multi-phase drinking water project in Bihar, India.[1] The project aims to supply safe drinking water to the water-alarmed cities like Gaya, Rajgir and Nawada, located in southern part of the state, through pipeline by lifting water from Ganga river near Hathidah Ghat in Mokama in Patna district.[2] through 11 powerful pumps.The ambitious Gangajal water supply scheme was approved in a special cabinet meeting held in Gaya, Bihar in December 2019[3]. The cost of this project was initially approved with ₹2,836 crore (US$360 million), the cost was later revised to ₹4,174 crore (US$520 million).[4] Ganga Water Lift Project is part of Nitish Kumar's ‘Jal-Jivan-Hariyali Abhiyan' which is aimed to minimize the bad effects of climate change.[3]

## Project details[edit]

The total length of pipeline that supply Ganga waters to three towns is 190.90 km. The Ganga water is lifted near Hathidah Ghat in Mokama and the pipeline crosses alongside the National highways and State highways. The main pipeline runs from Hathidah to Motnaje reservoir, Nawada via Sarmera and Barbigha. From Motnaje reservoir, one pipeline goes to Gaya, while another to Nawada. In Gaya, Urban Development & Housing Department (UDHD) will ensure supply of water to the households through pipeline. The Public Health & Engineering Department (PHED) & Bihar Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation (BUIDCO) will be responsible for Ganga water supply in Nawada. The length of the pipeline on Hathidah-Motnaje-Tetar-Abgilla pipe route is 150 km.[5]

Third pipeline goes to Manpur (near Gaya) via Vanganga, Tapovan and Jethia. A major water reservoir is constructed near Manpur. Similar reservoir are constructed for other cities at Motnaje & Paura in Nawada and Ghora Katora in Rajgir. Water is only lifted from ganga river in Monsoon season and stored in these reservoir, from where it is supplied to these four cities whole year after treating.

The project is completed in two phases. In the first phase of this project Ganga water is supplied to Gaya, Bodhgaya and Rajgir. Inauguration of first phase was done on 27th November 2022 in Rajgir & 28th November 2022 in Gaya (both for Gaya & Bodhgaya) by Nitish Kumar (Chief Minister of Bihar). In the second phase Nawada city is covered. Inauguration of second phase was done on 15th December 2023 at Paura,Nawada by Nitish Kumar (Chief Minister of Bihar)

The trial run of supplying the Ganga water to Gangaji Rajgrih Reservoir, constructed in Rajgir, was completed on July 7, 2022; to Tetar reservoir in Gaya on October 8, 2022, to the tank reservoir and water treatment plant at Abgila on October 14, 2022. While the same was achieved in water treatment plant, constructed at Paura village of Nawada on Decemder 12, 2023.

The project will facilitate supply of 135 litres of treated Ganga water every day for each person in Nawada, Gaya, Bodhgaya & Rajgir.[6]

About 20-km-long pipe was laid from Motnaje reservoir, Nawada to water treatment plant at Paura village, Nawada, from where currently water is supplied to about 14,000 households of 17 wards in Nawada city and will expand to remind 27 wards in near by future. In Gaya, Bodhgaya & Rajgir About 75,000 households in 53 wards of Gaya, 6,000 households of 19 wards in Bodh Gaya and over 8,000 households of 19 wards in Rajgir are also getting treated water. People in Gaya and Bodh Gaya have been getting the supply from Tetar reservoir, which is filled up through pipes from main reservoir at Motnaje, Nawada. Water is supplied through taps in Gaya and Bodh Gaya after its treatment at Manpur treatment plant, while Rajgir’s natives get potable water after its treatment at Motnaje plant.[5][6]

Four water stand are also build in Nawada city at different places with 6 taps & 1 tap for disabled in each for passerby and traveller called as Payu (प्याऊ (Hindi))

Hyderabad-based infrastructure firm Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Ltd (MEIL) completed 1st & 2nd Phase of Ganga Water Supply Scheme in 2022.[7][8] & 2023 respectively

## See also[edit]

* Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project
* Colorado River Aqueduct

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Complete Ganga Water Lift Project within time frame Nitish Kumar".
2. ^ "Bihar plans mega water lift project to supply Ganga water for drinking purpose to Gaya, Rajgir, Nawada towns".
3. ^ a b "Bihar: Residents of Gaya, Bodhgaya, Rajgir may get piped Ganga water by June 2022".
4. ^ "Ganga water lifting project cost revised".
5. ^ a b "Bihar: Residents of Gaya, Bodhgaya, Rajgir may get piped Ganga water by June 2022".
6. ^ a b "Ganga 'flows' to Nawada". Hindustan Times. 2023-12-15.
7. ^ "Phase 1 of 4,000-cr Ganga water lift project over: MEIL".
8. ^ "MEIL completes Phase-1 of Rs 4,000 crore Ganga floodwater harvesting project in Bihar".