The project is expected to supply arsenic-free drinking water to various areas of the North 24 Parganas district, including Barrackpur, Amdanga, Barasat and Deganga. The Rs 144-crore project will be completed in two phases. The chief minister announced that in the next two years the state government would supply arsenic-free drinking water to the entire state. People consuming the water will have to make one-time payment of Rs 500, and Rs 30 per month subsequently.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Public Health Engineering Gautam Deb also mentioned about the Rs 55-crore water supply project for Darjeeling. Deb said, “We are setting up a drinking water project for the Hills. Under it, purified drinking water will be lifted to Darjeeling. The construction work is scheduled to start this year and end by the next year.” The minister said that despite the turmoil in Darjeeling, the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha(GJM) leaders have promised him that construction work would go on unhindered. “I discussed with the GJM leaders and they assured me to render all possible help for the project, “ he added.