Jusco bags Rs 152-cr water supply project in Karnataka

Jusco bags Rs 152-cr water supply project in Karnataka - The Financial Express

Jamshedpur Utilities and Services Company Ltd (Jusco), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata Steel, has bagged the Rs 152-crore worth 6-year performance based water management contract for Mysore city in Karnataka.

Jusco entered into the tripartite contract agreement with Mysore City Corporation (MCC) and Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board (KUWSDB). This is the largest water supply project being executed through Public Private Partnership (PPP) model in the country.

All similar water supply projects undertaken till date have been pilot projects targeting part of the city (population of less than one lakh), whereas this is the first city-wide project, which will serve population of more than a million.

The project will enable equitable distribution of Cauvery water treated at Hongalli and Melapur treatment plants to the consumers through a network of about 1,200 km from 28 small and large reservoirs, gradually increasing the hours of supply to 24 hours a day with service level guarantees commensurate with national and international benchmarks as stipulated in the contract agreement.

KUWSDB and MCC had bid out this project in March earlier this year. Jusco won this project against stiff national and international competition from Larsen & Toubro (L&T), Jain Irrigation Projects and the Joint Venture of Ranhill Utilities Berhad, Malaysia and SPML.

The project will utilise the already sanctioned Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) funds (80% of the project cost) for improving the water supply infrastructure in Mysore city. The balance funding would be provided equally by the state government and MCC. The project will be completed in three phases. The first phase of 12 months will involve complete hydraulic remodeling of the present system and preparation of capital investment plan. In second phase, Jusco will rehabilitate the distribution network to reduce water losses and gradually increase various service standards.