Siddu sets terms for new flats

Chief minister says source of water must be identified by promoters

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said here on Thursday that the State Government would issue “no-objection certificates” (NOCs) to new apartments in the city only if there “is a water source” identified by promoters of the property.

Replying to a question by Janata Dal-Secular leader M Srinivas during the question hour in the Legislative Council, the chief minister said he would instruct Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) and the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) not to issue NOCs or sanction plans unless there was assured water source.

A developer of a property has to obtain NOCs from the Fire Department, BBMP and BWSSB before the construction of the building begins. The BBMP also has to approve the building plan.

Srinivas said apartments had mushroomed in and around the City. “Most of them don’t have water sources,” he said. The BWSSB was unable to supply water to these apartments.

Siddaramaiah said 2,553 apartments (26, 342 flats) had been permitted in the BBMP’s eight zones since 2011. Despite stringent regulations, these apartments “are dependent mostly on ground water. This is the reason for the depleting ground water table,” he said.
Siddaramaiah said the BBMP and the BWSSB would be directed to conduct an inspection before issuing the NOCs.

The member said promoters were not making any effort to implement rain water harvesting (RWH). The chief minister said he would direct the authorities to ensure the implementation of RWH as the BWSSB norms “say that any group housing above 100 houses should compulsorily have a water treatment plant as well as RWH to get an NOC.”

The chief minister said there were several proposals before the government to ensure adequate water supply to the city. “The water scarcity for Bangalore is a matter of concern. The government is exploring all possibilities to get more water to the City from other sources,” he said. A committee of technical experts was appointed  in 2010 to explore the possibility of meeting Bangalore’s water requirements. Three years ago, when Katta Subramanya Naidu was the BWSSB minister, he had announced that no water connection would be given to new buildings, as there was scarcity of water.

The panel of nine experts had made several recommendations,  including drawing of 30 tmc from the Linganamakki hydel power station reservoir and diversion of 100 to 250 MLD of treated water from the Vrishabavathi valley to the catchment area of Thippagondanahalli, diversion of five tmc water to T G Halli and “education of people” regarding water conservation and reduction in unaccounted water to save about 4 tmc water.

The chief minister said the government would come out with a comprehensive development plan (CDP) to check the unwieldy growth of Bangalore City. The BMRDA had prepared a draft CDP. But the CDP was sent back, seeking some clarifications.  Siddaramaiah said the CDP should have been ready five years ago. But the previous government did not pay attention. Once the plan was ready, objections from the public would be invited. Janata Dal-Secular member Naniah, too, urged the chief minister to check the growth of the City.