City: Kabini water by September

Centre to release rest of funds after clearance of local bodys due

District-in-charge and medical education minister S A Ramdas assured that the ongoing ambitious Kabini water project would be completed by first week of September and Mysore south belt would receive undisrupted water supply.

Speaking to press persons during his spot inspection of the project at Bidarugodu in Nanjangud taluk on Wednesday along with mayor M C Rajeashwari, deputy mayor Mahadevappa, MCC commissioner M R Ravi, MUDA chairman L Nagendra and other officials, he said, civil works would be completed within August 10 and electrical and pump installations would be completed by August 30 which would assist trial runs of drinking water supply in first week of September. He said one pump at main pumping station (intake well) would commence then and problems would be rectified.

The project seems to light up Mysore city and also taluk, by fulfilling the water woes created due to failure of monsoon showers. 

The completion of the project promises drinking water supply without any hurdles till 2024, he said. The works were delayed due to objections raised by land owners, which is solved now. The pipe lining works of 38 kilometres were completed now and remaining works would be completed by two months. 

He instructed officials to carry on the other works simultaneously. 

Officials said that the concrete works would consume more time, after which electrical activities would have a rapid completion, but to take water to the areas would require a week. 

Covers south belt

The Kabini water project would cover Srirampura, JP Nagar, Mahadevapura, Ramakrishnanagar, Kuvempunagar, Thonchikoppal, Vijayanagar, Dattagalli, Vidyanagar, Chamundipuram, Vishweshwaranagar, Najangud road and would benefit 33  villages enroute by installing borewells to provide 4.5 MLD of water. 

Among the 180 MLD water to be supplied by the project, the trial session in September first week would supply 60 MLD of water by a single pump. 

The remaining would be covered in later phases with other two pumps. The minister said, water would be supplied according to requirements and Mysore would be free from drinking water problems.  Commenting on quality of works, Ramdas said, it is not compromised anywhere in the present project, as there were lot of complaints and problems in Nanjangud drinking water project which is supplying drinking water to 58 villages. 

“There were pipeline problems in the project.”

For the project of a total cost of Rs 108.05 crore under JNNURM, 80 per cent (Rs 80 crore) of the amount would be funded by Central government, 10 per cent by State (Rs 10.8 crore) and another 10 per cent (Rs 10.8 crore) by Mysore City Corporation. Ramdas said that the State government and the local body had released the money while the Central had its 20 per cent due. 

Contradiction

However, contradictorily, the officials said, MCC has not released the grants completely, which is delaying Central government’s fund. The Central would release the remaining 20 per cent amount only after the State and MCC clear their dues. Officials said the project started in September 2009 has to be completed within September 2012 . 

MCC public health and education standing committee chairman R Kempanna, MCC finance standing committee chairman B L Bhyrappa, MCC opposition leader M V Ramprasad, KUWS and DB executive engineer Subbegowda, assistent executive engineer Puttaiah, Vani Vilas executive engineer Subramanya and others were present. The team also visited intermediate pumping station.