Dibrugarh: At a time when many government welfare projects face criticism for falling short of expectations, the Integrated Water Treatment Plant at Medo in Arunachal Pradesh’s Namsai district stands out as a successful initiative. It not only provides safe drinking water to local residents but also generates revenue by attracting tourists.
Located in a scenic area and implemented by the Public Health and Engineering Department (PHED), Namsai Division, the plant supplies drinking water free of cost to 10 villages, benefiting around 22,000 people.
Locals contributed to the project by donating around 3.3 acres of land for its implementation.
“The plant was set up about five years ago with a budget of around ₹32 crore. Today, tourists flock to the plant to beat the sweltering heat by cooling off and enjoying the river,” said Haage Guro, Junior Engineer, PHED, Arunachal Pradesh.
Guro added that revenue generated from tourism is used for maintaining the plant.
The facility is powered by both solar energy and the regular power supply, with generator sets as backup during outages.
“Currently, around 22,000 people in the Chongkham area benefit from this plant. It was built to ensure access to clean drinking water,” said an official at the plant.
The 2.70 MLD-capacity plant, sanctioned by the state government, sources its water from a jack well located in the riverbed. It provides drinking water to 21,695 people across 1,285 households in 10 habitations under Chongkham block of Namsai district.
Tourists from across Assam now visit the area to relax and enjoy its natural beauty. This July, families from Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Sivasagar, and other parts of Assam came to the site to enjoy the summer season.
“I came from Dibrugarh with my family. The place is beautiful and well maintained,” said a tourist.
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