Cabinet okays Rs 862-crore works on stormwater drains

The State Cabinet on Wednesday gave approval for construction of stormwater drains in Vrishabhavathi, Challaghatta, Koramangala and Hebbal valleys coming under Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike limits.

Briefing reporters after the Cabinet meeting, Law Minister T B Jayachandra said works will be taken up under Nagarotthana Special Infrastructure Funds and will cost Rs 862 crore. The state government will provide Rs 671.82 crore and the balance will have to be borne by the BBMP, he said.

In all, a total of 359 works will be taken up under six packages. The Cabinet also gave its approval for a project that envisages to utilise treated water from Hebbal-Nagawara valley in the city to fill tanks in Chikkaballapur and Bengaluru (Rural) districts using lift irrigation technology.

Jayachandra said water will be treated at a plant set up at Jakkur and it will be utilised to fill 44 tanks in Chikkaballapur and 21 tanks in Bengaluru Rural districts. A similar project to utilise treated water from Varthur Lake to fill lakes in Kolar district is under implementation, the minister added.

The total cost of the project is Rs 861 crore.