JOIN US24X7 water supply promised by October
“I cannot ask Bangaloreans to pay more now, as water supply is erratic. The government is implementing many projects to ensure regular drinking water supply. Water woes will come to an end with the onset of monsoon. Once the government ensures regular water supply, there will be an increase in water tariff immediately,” Minister for IT and BT and Water Supply Katta Subramanya Naidu told mediapersons here on Wednesday.
The minister avoided answering what steps the government had taken contain water woes at the present. “I apologise for the current water scenario. The previous government should be blamed for this situation. Even though I am aware of the problems, I am helpless. However, all efforts are being made to redress water woes,” he said.
A Rs 1,200 crore project to replace 4,000 km-long water supplying pipes in the erstwhile CMC/TMC areas and 2,000 km long water pipes in 100 villages around Bangalore is in full swing. Around 200 Million Litres Per Day (MLD) water will be saved after the replacement of old pipes, which amounts to water leakage.
Ground Level Reservoirs
A Rs 200 crore project will be taken up to construct eight Ground Level Reservoirs (GLR) to store Cauvery water. Each GLR requires 40 acres of land in the City. A special land acquisition officer will be appointed in this regard.
Bangalore City receives around 22 tmc of rainwater every year. In order to store this rainwater, six artificial lakes will be constructed in and around Bangalore - two each in Vrishabhavathi valley and Bellandur and one each in Anekal and Hoskote-Hebbal lake. These artificial lakes can store upto 35 per cent of rainwater. Land acquisition for the Rs 4,500 crore artificial lakes project will be completed within three months and works will be taken up in a phased manner, the minister said.
The government will implement Rs 400 crore project to treat sewage water and Sewage Treatment Plants will be constructed for the same. The government has finalised Rs 2,500 crore project to have a standby tank from Torekadanahalli to Bangalore City. All these projects requires around Rs 11,500 crore, the minister added.
Projects to address problems
Minister Katta Subramanya Naidu explained about projects to be taken up in the future to ensure 24X7 water supply in Bangalore. He said the projects aimed at addressing water issues for the next 50 years.
When questioned about the government’s ability to garner financial resources to meet Rs 11,500 crore, for the implementation of various projects the minister said, “It is not a problem. Things have been finalised long back. Some of the projects are already in progress. In case of th remaining projects, we will consider Build Operate Transfer (BoT) system or decide on inviting tenders.”
The minister said all the 198 wards in the City will have 24X7 water supply by October this year!