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Bikaner, the desert city was founded in 1488 AD by Rao Bikaji. It is popularly known as the land of sand dunes. The Indira Gandhi Canal project has played a very important role in the economic development of the city. Due to rapid urbanization population of the city is increasing at a fast rate. Bikaner being a border area it has also got a strategic importance. In 1991 population of the city was 4.16 lakhs which has now increased to 5.29 lakhs in 2001.

Water Supply Sector

Construction of 15000 MLD Raw Water Reservoir at Shobhasar Headworks

The designed drinking water demand of city for the year 2011 shall be 117 MLD. The present production from canal at Beechwal is 33 MLD and from ground water is 35 MLD. It is proposed to reduce supply of ground water, having high TDS and chlorides, by increasing canal water supply.
Therefore under RUIDP, it is proposed to supply additional 80 MLD water to Bikaner city, for this 12 packages, costing Rs. 68.31 crores, have been sanctioned and after expenditure of Rs. 70.05 crores.
2 nos. water treatment plants (one each of 40 MLD at Beechwal and Sobhasar), 6 nos. new clear water reservoirs, 54.59 km. long PSCC / D.I. Rising pipelines, 13 nos. new Elevated reservoirs, 5 nos. new pumping stations and 4 nos. refurbishment of old pumping stations and 122 kms. Distribution pipelines are taken in project and have been completed.
A WTP, CWRs, ESRs & pumping stations of Beechwal zone are completed & handed over to PHED which has resulted in supply of 40 MLD additional water in summer 2006 and huge power saving of about 2 crores per year.
The remaining works for additional 40 MLD water from Sobhasar zone (New Kanasar distributory canal source) WTP 40 MLD, 3 nos. CWRs, 1 no. Raw Water Reservoir, 3 nos. new pumping station, power line and PSCC pipeline have been substantially completed and commissioned . Therefore whole city shall get adequate drinking water upto year 2011 as per norms.

Sewerage Sector

Present System Problems:
Geographically Bikaner has natural slopes and is divided in four drainage zones-Vallabh Garden, Shivbari, Murlidhar Vyas Nagar & Gangasahar. Main part of the old city Present System Problems:
Geographically Bikaner has natural slopes and is divided in four drainage zones-Vallabh Garden, Shivbari, Murlidhar Vyas Nagar & Gangasahar. Main part of the old city as well as half of the Bikaner's population is connected in Vallabh Garden zone. In the project "Vallabh Garden Drainage zone" having 57% population of city is proposed to be covered. There is already existing 78 km. sewer lines and 6500 sewer connections in this zone.
Under RUIDP project 223 km. new sewer lines were proposed and have been completed & commissioned under 7 nos. packages completed. Sewer lines have been handed over to Municipal Council. 1 no. pumping station in Public Park is also commissioned and handed over. Another Sewage Pumping Station in Sudrashana Nagar is also complete.
The work on 20 MLD Sewage Treatment Plant at Vallabh Garden is completed..On the new 223 km. sewer lines about 8700 sewer connections are released by Municipal Council, Bikaner with the help of CAPP-RUIDP. RUIDP has also given 4 nos. Sewer Jetting & Suction Machines to Municipal Council, Bikaner.

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Drainage Sector
For the solution of rainwater in and around Sursagar during rains in Bikaner, RUIDP has initiated to solve the problem of Sursagar with following proposals:
Under drainage sector of RUIDP project, Bikaner, it is proposed to solve old Soorsagar problem of Bikaner city. Thus 3 nos. packages costing Rs. 23.07 crores were sanctioned and completed. One package DR-03 has been terminated on 05.06.07 and balance work for 2.5 km. new RCC Diversion Channel, 9.5 km new/old small drainages and Desilting & remodeling of 6.1 km. old escape channel from Soorsagar to Vallabh Garden has also been completed.

Fire Fighting Services Sector

Solid waste management is possibly the utmost necessity for the public of Bikaner. It is to be solved by creating awareness and participation of people, providing required equipments and safe landfill sites. Keeping these objectives in mind, under the project various works have been taken up for Solid Waste Management. For safe disposal of solid waste scientifically designed landfill site near Goga Gate has been substantially completed and handed over to Municipal Council, Bikaner. Apart from it, 2 nos. JCBs, 1 Tractor, 4 nos. Vehicles and 60 nos. solid waste containers have already handed over to Municipal Council. Under its master plan, the problem of solid waste will be solved in several stages by BMC.

Construction of Railway Over Bridge

Earlier Rail bye-pass was sanctioned but as MOU was not agreed by Railways. Therefore in place of it, 1 no. Rail Over Bridge at Gajner road, NH-15 railway crossing, costing Rs.21.30 crores for Viaduct spans & Approaches of ROB has been issued to the firm. Work is under progress.

RESTORATION OF SOORSAGAR

Bikaner was established in 1488 AD by Rao Bikaji.
In connection to continuous development of city Maharaja Shri Soor Singh ji constructed Sursagar in front of Junagarh fort in 1614 to collect rain water.
Sursagar was also known as ‘Tajuk-a-Sagar’ (as mentioned in book ‘jal & samaj’ by Brij Ratan Joshi)

According to an old inscription the water of Sursagar was used for day today activities, drinking, generating electricity etc.

The water body was maximum developed during 1910-1938, during this time base of the tank was made water tight with clay & sodium carbonate.
The water body has a overflow tunnel which takes overflow to moat of the fort.

The lake is 22,800 Sqm(approx.) in area of a rectangular in shape with approximately 184m in length and 120m in breath and approximately 8 m in depth.
The lake collected fresh rain water during rains and was place of attraction during the earlier days.
Most of the construction work took place during famine relief works.