The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has already sanctioned Rs 1 lakh for the installation of water meters.

The KEIP has shortlisted three firms — Severn Trent (UK), Veolia (France) and Jusco — for the purpose. “It will take another 35-40 days for the firms to respond and then the bidding documents will be finalised with the ADB,” said Santanu Bosu, Project Director, KEIP.

The water meters will be procured stage-wise. Initially, 20,000 meters will be procured and it is likely that they will be imported. “The procurement drive will be completed by the end of 2010. Further loan prospect from ADB depends on the viability of the project,” said Basu.

The KEIP has also chalked out the installation process to7 be completed in three phases. In the first, water meters will be installed in government institutions, hospitals and offices on an experimental basis. In the second, semi-commercial institutions are to be targeted and in the third they will be installed in residential areas.

The civic body, however, is yet to build a consensus on the issue. In May, KMC’s mayor-in-council gave its green signal, but Forward Bloc MmiC Subhodh De objected to the proposal.

The idea to impose water tax has not gone down well with the opposition. “We won’t allow water tax to be implemented in the city, so there is no question of installation of water meters,” said Partho Chatterjee of the Trinamool Congress.