The waterworks, with a storage capacity of one crore gallons, is meant to cater to a population of one lakh in Sectors 48 to 56, officials of the Engineering Department told Newsline."But its capacity could be extended to about two lakh people as we shall keep a provision to add another 30-40 lakh gallons by earmarking sufficient land," officials said. If need be, it could also be diverted to other sectors, they added.

The Engineering Department has already earmarked the site, measuring 15 acres, which is located between Sector 52-A and 52-B.The Rs 14-crore project estimate does not include the cost of laying of a new line from the Sector 39 main waterworks to the Sector 52 headworks (or waterworks), which will cost an additional few crores, the officials said. This line will bring filtered water to the proposed waterworks.

The proposal now goes to the Planning Department for approval of the site. The estimate, too, is yet to be approved by the Chief Engineer, before it moves to the secretary, and the Finance and Accounts Department for approval.

According to officials, the construction will possibly start during the next financial year. In the first phase, the Administration proposes to build a pump house, underground storage and suction, a small electric sub-station and an office. The entire process could take about two years, they added.

As of now, there exist four headworks in the City in Sectors 12, 26, 32 and 37, all of which have a storage capacity of 80 lakh to one crore gallons. The main waterworks -- in Sector 39 -- gets water from Kajauli and after treatment, distributes it to the four waterworks.

"It's mainly because of the City's rising water requirement that we decided to go in for one crore gallons in Sector 52, otherwise 80 lakh would have sufficed," the officials said.

At present, water to Sectors 48 to 56 -- which are largely undeveloped and thus have no big demand of water -- is drawn from various tubewells built in these sectors and at times, also from the Sectors 32 and 37 waterworks.