More Cauvery water for City by August third week

Minister for Bangalore water supply S Suresh Kumar said on Saturday that the Cauvery IV stage II phase project, which will bring an additional 500 million litres per day (MLD) of water, will be commissioned in the third week of August.

Speaking to reporters, he said the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has taken steps to install meters for the consumers so that water is supplied to them (those residing in the erstwhile CMCs and TMC areas) at the earliest, he added.

The project was delayed due to scarcity of workers and shortage of construction materials like sand. The BWSSB is currently pumping 900 MLD of water. With the addition of 500 MLD, the total capacity will increase to 1,400 MLD, he added.

However, residents in 110 erstwhile villages will not get Cauvery water supply under this project. The BWSSB has approached the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to finance a separate drinking water project for the villages.

But the JICA has asked the BWSSB to specify the source of water. Hence, a committee of experts has been constituted to look into it, he said.