The Rs 400-crore grant will be utilised for revamping the drainage in Kolkata. After being allocated Rs 100 crores for a water-supply project and Rs 100 crore for a drainage project, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation has been trying to acquire a grant worth Rs 400 crore. “We have already received Rs 100 crore for the drainage system and Rs 100 crore for the water-supply plant at Dhapa,” said Bhattacharya.

“Although we have received Rs 100 crore for the drainage renovation work, we have been waiting for the Rs 400-cr grant. KMC has plans to revamp the entire drainage system of the city with the Rs 500-crore grant,” said the mayor. He added: “We are hopeful that the NURM will accept our proposal and grant us Rs 400 crore, so that we can begin the renovation of the city’s drainage and sewerage.”

The NURM, on the other hand, has set two conditions for the allocation of Rs 400 crore. Apart from deciding the ward level committee members through elections, the KMC will have to create a fund for maintaining the drainage system.