JOIN USRainwater harvesting: If you don't install it, BWSSB will
A senior officer of the Board confirmed to Deccan Herald that BWSSB will be following the Tamil Nadu method of enforcing the rule on RWH.
The BWSSB Bill having been passed in the Assembly and the Council, the government had to decide on a deadline to enforce the water conservation measure. With rumours of December 2011 being set as deadline, BWSSB has gone a step further and decided to install the RWH structure in buildings in the City and charge the property owners.
To encourage compliance, the BWSSB will also help consumers to avail loans from Syndicate Bank. It has also decided to allow consumers to pay the cost in installments, although the quantum of the installments are to be decided.
To hire all water tankers
In order to find a solution to the growing water crisis, minister S Suresh Kumar said that since none of the private water tankers applied for their tender which was called thrice, the Board has sent notices to four Deputy Commissioner of Bangalore district to appropriate all water tankers including those owned by private entrepreneurs to cater to BWSSB's service till the end of summer.
The tankers will be deployed to supply Cauvery water to areas that lack water connection. The BWSSB will pay the owners of the tankers.
The Minister also said that the Board was planning to finish by December work related to Phase II of Cauvery IV stage that was slated to be completed only by March 2012.
A BWSSB officer said that although the date of completion still remained March 2012, there was scope to complete before time.
“The work is proceeding steadily, and at its present pace, it can be completed by December. The quality of work, however, will not be compromised. The pipelines have been laid, but there could be delay in the construction of pump houses,” he said.
The officer added that although Cauvery I, II and III stages are receiving enough water, due to power disruption, the pump houses get shut down, hampering supply of water to the City. With uninterrupted power supply, there is “absolutely no problem” in supplying water to the City, he said.
City to get 500 MLD by Dec end
The State government is hastening the process of completing Cauvery IV Stage II Phase project by December, which would provide the City with an additional 500 MLD of water.
Inaugurating the work of laying new water pipelines at Srirampura on Sunday, BWSSB Minister S Suresh Kumar said the Government which was expecting to complete the project by 2012, is now keen on finishing the work before the scheduled time. Kirloskar Group has been awarded contract to draw Cauvery water to the City, he said.
At present the City is receiving 900 MLD of water and an additional 500 MLD of water will ease the water crisis in the City. More thrust is laid on the Cauvery IV Stage II Phase, as it is considered the only possible alternative to tackle water woes, the minister said. He added the government would set up a committee to identify other water resources to meet the growing water needs. “A nine-member panel under the chairmanship of B M Thyagarajan, former BWSSB chairman, will identify other avenues to draw water from including water from Hemavathi to T G Halli reservoir,” the Minister said.