NOIDA, Nov. 10 -- The Noida authority on Sunday completed and opened a 35 million litres per day (MLD) Ganga water supply project to ensure better quality of water is supplied to several residential sectors in Central Noida areas. Noida MLA Pankaj Singh inaugurated the project and opened the project in Sector 116 that will enable citizens to start getting additional supply of Ganga water in sectors including 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 116, and 117 among others, said officials. The move came three days after residents of several housing societies alleged that the Noida authority's water works department was failing to supply quality drinking water. On Friday, residents got their drinking water supply tested, discovering that the Authority was supplying high total dissolved solids (TDS) drinking water that generally affects the taste of water in their societies, home to thousands of residents. The Ganga water supply holds significance because the Authority promises Ganga water drinking supply to residents. As per the ecological reasons, this supply is crucial since conservation of the ground water table is needed. And groundwater is saline, having high TDS. As a result, consuming ground water causes health issues. Residents demanded for Ganga water for many reasons including health grounds, and also because they were promised the same in the first place. The total demand in sectors 74-79 is 45-50 MLD. "The saline water is not fit for drinking because it can cause hair loss and other issues. Also, since it is not sweet water, drinking it is not acceptable to most people. And as compared to Ganga water, the groundwater in Noida is salty making it tough for residents to use it," said Gaurav Bansal an expert and environmental lawyer. On Sunday, MLA Singh asked the Authority to address residents' grievances on a priority. The Authority said it will start mixing additional Ganga water supply to improve the water TDS. "We have spent Rs.2.47 crore fund to lay pipeline to make sure this additional 35MLD Ganga water is delivered to residents who complain of high TDS in drinking water supply. Now, the TDS will be as per the prescribed level (less than 500), benefitting residents in these dozens of societies located in sector 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 116 and 117 among others," said RK Singh, general manager (water works department), Noida authority. The department also said that it will further improve the quality of drinking water....