Mayor visits Hubli to study water management

The delegation visited the demo-zones in the twin cities where the continuous water supply scheme has been implemented. There was also a power point presentation on the project.

Later, speaking at a meeting held to discuss the pros and cons of the water supply project, MCC Assistant Executive Engineer G Gopal Gowda said the MCC was planning to implement the 24x7 water project in Mangalore. Therefore, the delegation visited the twin cities to study the feasibility of the project, technology used, and problems being faced while implementing the project here.

“Our main aim is to implement the project in Mangalore to check about 3.5 MGD of water pilferage per day and about Rs 5 lakh loss incurring in water supply in Mangalore by implementing the 24x7 water supply project,” he added.

He said, 13 out of 60 wards in MCC jurisdiction were already getting round-the-clock water supply. To extend this scheme to the remaining wards, the MCC needed Rs 137 crore. The officials had already explained the advantages of the 24x7 water scheme to the MCC members. But there were still some doubts. However, after coming and visiting the works in the twin cities, the MCC members and officials had realised the benefits of the scheme completely.

Karnataka Water Board Executive Engineer Jayaram advised the MCC delegation to use quality materials and hire the services of specialised and best agencies to monitor and implement the works effectively.

He also said there was opposition to the project from the people initially in the twin cities. They had apprehensions about the tariff. Continuos meetings and campaign about the advantages of the project had allayed the people’s apprehensions about the project. Later, they accepted and now everyone wanted to have 24x7 water connection.

Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) Superintending Engineer L R Nayak said even the people below poverty line in the demo zone were also paying water bill promptly now. Achieving 100 per cent water metering was crucial in getting the maximum benefit from the ambitious water project.

Mayor Poorna Patil promised to extend all possible help and share the technical know-how of the project with the MCC.

MCC Mayor Praveen Anchan, Deputy Mayor Geeta Nayak, HDMC Deputy Mayor Narayan Jartargar, Corporators Sudhir Shetty, Ranganath Kini, Vijay Shetty, Raghavendra Ramadurga, other corporators and officials from the Karnataka Water Board, KUIDAFC from MCC and HDMC also participated in the discussions.