Here is a bitter pill to swallow for the NGOs which have been vehemently protesting a private agency handling the operation and maintenance of water supply in four cities of North Karnataka.

The 24/7 water supply in the demonstration zones of Belgaum, Hubli-Dharwad has received a positive response from the consumers, according to officials. The corporations of these two cities have passed resolutions recommending to the urban development department to extend the service throughout the city. The Gulbarga city corporation is yet to take a decision.

Resolution

The Belgaum city corporation in its resolution passed in December, 2007 has stated that in 10 wards, on an experimental basis the 24/7 water supply has been introduced.

This World Bank assisted project has been completed satisfactorily. The implementation of the project is also satisfactory. The consumers have expressed their happiness over the service.

The citizens of other wards are demanding that they too should get water round-the-clock. Keeping the public good in view, the government should permit the project to be extended throughout the city, the resolution says.

Possibilities

The Hubli-Dharwad corporation too has passed a similar resolution. It has suggested to the Urban Development department to explore the possibilities of extending the service as well as funding of the project.

Veolia, a French company, has been entrusted with the task of O & M of the water supply in the demo zones of five cities. The task is to provide water supply to select 7,600 houses in Belgaum, 7,000 in Hubli, 5,000 in Dharwad and 3,000 houses in Gulbarga.

The supply is operationalised in Belgaum and Hubli demo zones, while it is nearing completion in Dharwad and Gulbarga. The project began in April 2005 and it covered nearly 10 per cent of the total population of the cities.
The company has to maintain the work it has executed for two years after the completion. Belgaum Commissioner Megannanavar says that the consumers are happy because they are getting water for 24 hours a day. The water leakage and wastage has drastically reduced. “The people now have assured water supply. So, the wastage has come down. We want the service to be extended to the entire city. But who should be doing it and how the scheme should be financed are left to the government,” he added.

He also said that the urban poor, those of who were depending on the public taps, will now have to pay nominal charges.

“The dedicated doorstep water supply has changed the mindset of the poor urban consumers. They are ready to pay. In the new system the water supply pressure is so high that it can reach III floor without the help of pumps. The replacement of old pipelines and valves have helped in plugging the water leakage by 30 per cent. The system is designed to supply 135 litres of water per day per individual,” he added.

Ready to pay

Similar views were expressed by Dr Ajay Nagabushan, Commissioner, Hubli-Dharwad Corporation. The citizens’ groups in the Corporation have found that the new system is working well. The consumers would not mind paying for the service they are getting, he added.

Now it is paying time for the consumers. The revised water tariff, connection and meter charges have to be paid.

Exempted

The meter charge has been fixed at Rs 900, the connection charges are Rs 2,000. The BPL families are exempted from paying the meter charges.

But even the poor has to pay the meter charges and the payment can be made in installments. The new tariff came into effect in Hubli on February 1. Other cities will soon switch over to the new tariff, according a KUIDFC official.

The government is yet to act upon the resolutions passed by the corporations to extend the 24/7 service. Sources said that the efficiency of the new system will be watched for next six months before fully accepting it.
Also, the consumers’ reaction to the revised tariff would have to be watched before deciding on next course of action.