Title - With Metro will come greater demand for power, water

As per the need for water projected in the DPR, around 1 lakh litre water would be required daily; power needs of the city when Metro is functional are now being studied.The Metro Rail project would enhance the demand for power and water supply in the city. Arrangements would have to be made for additional power and water for the Metro Rail. The UT Electricity Department has already submitted a study to the Power Grid Corporation of India for the purpose of gauging the electricity requirements in the future.The study by the Power Grid would encompasses the needs of electricity for the whole city in the coming years. One of the major components of the study would be making additional power supply available to run the Metro. Keeping in mind the need for power, a 220 KV sub-station would be set up that would supply 80 MW of power.With the city not having any scope to produce its own electricity, additional power would be purchased. The power needs of the city when the Metro is functional are now being studied.More water would be required during construction as well as when the Metro becomes functional. A washing line would be set up where the coaches would be washed. There would be a need for water at the stations as well. Of the 30 Metro stations, 22 would be in Chandigarh. As per the need for water projected in the detailed project report, around 1 lakh litre water would be required daily. In 2018, when the Metro is expected to be completed, the need for water would be 132 kilo litre daily (KLD). This would increase to 136 KLD in 2021 and 170 KLD in 2031.Chandigarh receives 87 million gallons daily (mgd) of water. The peak summer demand is 116 mgd. The project for enhancing the water supply through augmentation of water supply scheme, phase V and VI of Kajauli is lying in cold storage with both Punjab and Haryana raising certain issues. While the two states have been directed by the High Court to settle the dispute and enable Chandigarh to get additional water, the issue hangs fire. It is expected that by the time the Metro is operational, the city would have additional water supply.The DPR for Metro Rail was submitted recently by the Delhi Rail Metro Corporation. This would be sent to the Centre for approval. A senior official of the administration said that it would take around one year of preparation time for the logistics to be in place before the process of construction can be started.The environmental impact assessment in the DPR states that 80,000 litres of sewage would be produced. A total of 53,000 litres of effluent would also be produced. As much as 38,000 litres of sewerage water would be treated to be used for horticulture purposes in the first phase.

Special-purpose vehicle
The DPR states that a special-purpose vehicle be set up for construction of the Metro with Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana as its members. For sharing the cost, 15 to 20 per cent each should be contributed by the Centre as well as Chandigarh. Punjab and Haryana would contribute 30 to 40 per cent of the expenses. Measures have been suggested for raising funds by Chandigarh including imposition of vehicle registration cess and getting loans.