Cauvery water saved from leaks may quench thirst of villages added to city

The 110 villages (five zones), which were added to the city limits in 2007, may get Cauvery water from the core area under the Unaccounted for Water (UFW) project that aims to plug huge volumes of water leakage.

After taking note on the progress of Cauvery V Stage scheme and water supply project for 110 villages here on Tuesday, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday directed three departments to find out financing options to fund the project in a week’s time.

For long, the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has been expecting a loan of Rs 4,096 crore for Cauvery V Stage and Rs 5,018 crore to set up water supply and sanitary infrastructure in 110 villages from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The Board, however, did not receive approval from JICA.

Following the delay, the chief minister directed the Urban Development, Finance department and BWSSB to work on the option of funding the project using their own resources. He also suggested supply of saved water from the core area to the newly created five zones, a senior BWSSB official who attended the meeting told Deccan Herald.

Through its UFW project of replacing old pipelines, BWSSB has proposed to save 120 million litres per day (MLD) in the first phase. The project has been undertaken in south, west and central Bengaluru at a cost of Rs 654 crore. Of this, BWSSB has already saved 35 MLD of water in South Bengaluru by spending Rs 174 crore.

“We would save another 80 MLD of water in two other areas, which will be ready in the next six months,”  the officer said.

“There is also a proposal to take up UFW project in the three remaining divisions. With this, we would be able to save more water. The immediate requirement of water in these 110 villages consisting of Byatarayanapura, Mahadevapura, Bommanahalli, RR Nagar and Dasarahalli is 180 MLD,” the official said.

Rs 1,885 crore sought

Meanwhile, the BWSSB has sought Rs 1,885 crore from the state government to set up a water supply network and infrastructure like pipelines in the 110 villages. The Board would contribute Rs 376 crore for the project, he said. He also mentioned that BWSSB will have to depend on the loan from JICA for the Cauvery V Stage scheme as it is a huge investment.