24x7 water supply scheme for the city is in pipeline, claims MCC

Once the proposal on the 24X7 water supply is approved in the Council, the proposal will be sent to the government for approval. The scheme not only aims at supplying water round the clock, it will also deal with the plugging of the non revenue water. In fact, it will find out where the leakage of water is taking place in the supplying system. The 24X7 water supply will also ensure 100 per cent metering of the households in the City Corporation limits, said sources to Deccan Herald.

“The censors will be fixed in all the water supplying system, so that it will notify the leakage immediately. Even if the overhead tanks get filled, then the pump will be automatically switched off, without wasting the water. It will also include scientific billing and bill collection. A sum of Rs 36 crore has been earmarked for the networking of the old pipelines in the Corporation limits,” sources added.

As per the plan, the MCC will provide basic infrastructure for the water supply. A helpline will be set up to listen to the grievances of the consumers.

Deferred
Though the MCC meeting which was held on July 30 was supposed to discuss the proposal, the discussion on 24X7 water supply was deferred. Chief Whip in the MCC Sudheer Shetty said the agenda had been deferred as there was a need for further deliberations of the proposal before the civic body. The MCC resolution dated November 30, 2009 had given in principle approval to implement the scheme on a PPP mode and had empowered KUIDFC to take forward the process. Accordingly, KUIDFC under Infrastructure Project Development Fund had given CRISIL Risk and Infrastructure Solution Limited to undertake financial feasibility study of the project. The representatives from CRISIL on May 18, had given a detailed presentation on the aspects of the scheme. The private operator chosen under the project would have been given with the responsibility of operating and maintaining the city’s water supply system for a period of 20 years, the proposal said.

The MCC had set up a committee to study the pros and cons of the system under the chairmanship of Mayor Praveen. In fact, a team had visited Hubli-Dharward Corporation where 24X7 water supply system has been introduced in select wards. The core committee which met on June 28 took the advise of Chartered Accountant Sujaya Alva on maintenance cost.

At present, the MCC is providing water to the domestic conusmer at Rs 65.
The Opposition leader in the MCC Lancelot Pinto said that “we are opposed to the 24x7 water supply system. We have already utilised 135 crore under ADB project to provide infrastrcture for water supply. Now additional Rs 138 crore for 24X7 water supply would be a burden on the MCC. Handing over the entire system to a private person to manage the show will definietely lead to increase in the water tariff. Realising the fact that the citizens will oppose the hike in water tariff, the MCC deferred the discussion on the 24x7 water supply,” he added.