At last, project to supply drinking water to 110 villages takes off

The much awaited drinking water supply project for 110 villages that were added to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) about a decade ago, was launched by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah here on Wednesday.

“The project, once executed, will benefit 12 lakh residents in five zones of the BBMP--Mahadevapura, Bommanahalli, Rajarajeshwari Nagar, Dasarahalli and Byatarayanapura,’’ Siddaramaiah said.

The total cost of the project is Rs 1,886 crore and it is expected to be completed in two years. The work will commence in a month’s time.

The project was mooted in November 2016. Besides water supply works, a proposal has been sent to the Union government to lay underground drainage lines and set up waste processing units and intermediate sewage pumping stations among other facilities in the 110 villages spread across 225 sqkm. The cost of this project is estimated to be Rs 5,052 crore.

BWSSB chairman Tushar Girinath said that the Board has been directed by the chief minister to provide 10 tmc of Cauvery water to these villages under the Cauvery V Stage project. The city is presently receiving about 19 tmc of Cauvery water every year. 

According to BWSSB sources, out of the Rs 1,886 crore earmarked for the project, around Rs 1,500 crore will be used for laying of water pipelines in these villages and the rest would be utilised for the Unaccounted-for-Water project in the core areas of the city.

While the BWSSB will fund 35% of the total project cost, the rest will be borne by the government.