JOIN USAfter JUSCO, MCC to resume water supply
After a gap of five years, Mysuru City Corporation(MCC) will resume the task of operation and maintenance (O and M) in the city from June 1.
Earlier MCC was executing the similar task through Vani Vilas Water Works (VVWW), its water supply wing that dates back to the erstwhile rule of Wadiyars, till Jamshedpur Utilities and Services Company (JUSCO) entered the scene in 2009.
After a heated discussion, it was finally resolved in the council meeting held on Friday to take over the task from JUSCO, after the extended term of the latter expires on May 31.
However, all the pending works related to 24x7 water supply have to be completed by JUSCO and Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board (KUWSDB) as per the tender agreement. The tri-partite agreement between MCC, Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board (KUWSDB) and JUSCO was inked in 2009.
The council also decided to write to KUWSDB, to continue to provide the staff already deputed on the maintenance job.
Opinions
Earlier, during the meeting chaired by Mayor R Lingappa, corporators aired varied views, ranging from handing over maintenance to KUWSDB, to the formation of a separate water board for the city corporation.
Krishnaraja MLA M K Somashekar who also attended the meeting favoured KUWS and DB, while Chamaraja MLA Vasu advocated for a separate water board on the lines of KUWS and DB, in the city. However, a majority of the corporators were of the opinion that MCC should take up the responsibilty of the same, as it was handling the task before JUSCO arrived.
The corporators also criticised the authorities concerned for failing to ensure that the terms of the agreement regarding 24x7 water supply was met. JD(S) corporator Nataraj complained that even after six years, JUSCO had been able to complete only 12 per cent of the works. It has also failed to plug leakages, he added.
BJP corporator T Girish Prasad dared the authorities to name a ward where water was being provided round the clock. Mayor Lingappa echoing the concerns of the corporators, said that none of the wards got water round the clock.
MCC Commissioner, C G Betsurmath cautioned about the challenges the MCC might face with the decision, with just a fortnight left to take over the task. Shortage of staff at VVWW remains a concern.
KUWS and DB executive engineer K P Jayaram said that escalation in estimated costs for several projects has resulted in delay in completing the same.