To augment the supply of drinking water to the city, particularly the southern fringes of Kolkata, Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) will be setting up a water treatment plant along with a 2.5 million gallon capacity underground reservoir cum pumping station at Garden Reach. The decision was taken at a meeting of the works and tender committee held in the conference room of Unnayan Bhavan, recently. The project will be constructed on turn key basis. The committee has advised the wing resposible for setting up the pumping station to invite fresh tenders. A senior KMDA official said, steps have already been taken to augment the supply of drinking water to south Kolkata and the fringes where the population growth is very high. Hectic construction activities are going on in the southern fringes and to cope with the situation, it is necessary to increase the supply of drinking water. Steps have already been taken to do away with deep tube wells as the ground water level has been receding in the city particularly in south Kolkata. The civic authorities and the water investigation directorate have already imposed restrictions on deep tube wells. A committee headed by the municipal commissioner has been set up to prevent unauthorised sinking plant of deep tube wells. He said that work is being going on so that there is a remarkable rise in the supply of drinking water in the city by 2010. It may be recalled that the KMC has already decided to impose water tax in the city. Also, thrust will be to reduce wastage of drinking water.