Karnataka govt moves to plug high-level of water leakage in B'lore

Karnataka government has awarded to L&T a pilot project to study the reasons for high-level of drinking water leakage in the city and come out with recommendations to bring it down by half.

Minister for Urban Development and Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), S Suresh Kumar, told reporters here the firm has already taken up the project in Chamarajpet, Basavanagudi, Jayanagar and Padmanabhanagara.

It has been asked to submit report in one-and-half years.Water leakage, including by way of illegal connections, in the city is estimated to be in the range of 35-40 per cent, and the Government's intention is to bring it down to 20 per cent, which is considered as an average such loss in different parts of the world.

Based on the report's recommendations, the government would take measures to plug the loopholes to stem such leakage, that would enable to it provide drinking water for more households.

Kumar, also Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, said the Union Planning Commission has asked the Chicago University to study the "Sakala" scheme of Karnataka and submit a report. Sakala is a flagship programme of the State government providing time-bound delivery of government services to the citizens.

Meanwhile, the Minister said the State government would put forth its position on the Cauvery water sharing row when Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa meets her Karnataka counterpart Jagadish Shettar on the issue on Thursday.

The meeting comes as a follow up to the Supreme Court directive suggesting both the Chief Ministers to meet and arrive at an amicable solution to the "sensitive" water dispute.

Kumar said if the meeting is successful, it would actually be model for similar water sharing disputes in other parts of the country.