Kolkata: West Bengal has launched a major drinking water infrastructure project in Purulia with assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), alongside a broader development push aimed at improving infrastructure, employment and public facilities in the Junglemahal region.
The West Bengal Piped Water Supply Project, inaugurated at Manbazar in Purulia on August 17, has been developed at an estimated cost of ₹1,296.25 crore. It is designed to provide safe and reliable piped water to more than 84,500 rural households across five development blocks, while also supplying bulk water to Purulia municipality.
The project is being implemented by the Public Health Engineering Department of the West Bengal government with JICA assistance.
Water Project to Cover Five Blocks
The scheme will cover Manbazar-I, Barabazar, Arsha, Purulia-I and Puncha development blocks in Purulia district.
Key features of the project include:
- Investment: Approximately ₹1,296.25 crore
- Beneficiaries: More than 84,500 rural households
- Coverage: Five development blocks and Purulia municipality
- Water source: Mukutmanipur Reservoir on the Kumari River
- Implementing agency: West Bengal Public Health Engineering Department
- Development partner: Japan International Cooperation Agency
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The project is aimed at addressing persistent drinking water shortages in Purulia, a district that has historically faced water scarcity. JICA identifies the project as an initiative to improve safe and adequate water supply and, in turn, improve health and living conditions in the district.
JICA Highlights India-Japan Development Partnership
JICA India Chief Representative Takeuchi Takuro described the project as an important milestone in India-Japan development cooperation.
“This project marks a significant milestone in India-Japan development cooperation and JICA’s commitment to strengthening water supply infrastructure across India.”
He said improved access to piped water is expected to contribute to better public health, reduce the time and effort spent by households on collecting water and support the social and economic well-being of rural communities.
The project is part of JICA’s long-standing cooperation with West Bengal in areas including water and sanitation, infrastructure and sustainable development. JICA’s records show that the Purulia water supply project was formalised through a loan agreement in March 2013, with the Public Health Engineering Department serving as the executing agency.
Focus on Junglemahal’s Wider Development
Alongside the water infrastructure initiative, the state government outlined a broader development agenda for Junglemahal, with a particular focus on Purulia’s tribal areas.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said the region would see efforts aimed at strengthening basic infrastructure, education, housing and community facilities while also reviving industrial activity and creating employment opportunities.
The proposed development focus includes:
- New schools and educational infrastructure
- Community halls and other public facilities
- Housing support for tribal communities
- Improvement of basic infrastructure
- Industrial rejuvenation
- Employment generation
- Stronger delivery of public services
The government also reiterated its position against alleged irregularities such as “cut money” and syndicate practices while promising greater emphasis on development at the grassroots level.
Mukutmanipur Reservoir to Support Water Supply
The new system will draw water from the Mukutmanipur Reservoir on the Kumari River, providing a more dependable source for the targeted areas.
JICA’s project documentation notes that Purulia has historically faced inadequate piped-water coverage and recurring water shortages, making reliable water infrastructure an important public-health and quality-of-life intervention.
The Public Health Engineering Department’s project information also describes the wider JICA-assisted programme as being intended to provide safe and adequate drinking water to areas of Purulia affected by acute shortages.
Development Agenda Extends Beyond Drinking Water
The water project is being positioned as one component of a wider effort to improve living conditions and economic opportunities in Purulia.
The state government’s proposed focus on industrial revival and employment generation is intended to complement improvements in basic services, particularly in areas that have historically experienced infrastructure gaps.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has also indicated that the government’s performance will be assessed by the public through a report card after one year, with the first such assessment expected in March 2027.
The Purulia project thus combines water security, public health and rural infrastructure with the state’s wider plans for economic and social development in Junglemahal.
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