Identify land for setting up STP in Madikeri: Minister

Urban Development Minister Byrathi Basavaraj directed the officials to identify land for setting up a sewage treatment plant (STP) in Madikeri town.

Chairing a review meeting of the works taken up by the water supply and sewerage board at the DC’s office hall in Madikeri, he said, “There are Rs 50 crore allotted for setting up of the STP. The money could not be utilised due to failure in identifying the land. Considering the development of the town, there is a need to identify the land and initiate the work on the STP.”

Water supply should not be disrupted in Town Panchayats and CMC jurisdiction. Measures should be initiated to change the old pipelines, he added.

The UGD works initiated in Madikeri and Kushalnagar should be completed at the earliest, he said.

The minister directed the chief officer to prepare a blueprint on the laying of pipeline in Somwarpet.

‘Develop layouts’

Measures should be taken to develop the layouts in Madikeri town and three Town Panchayat jurisdictions, he said.

MLA K G Bopaiah said that the flood in Kushalnagar had inconvenienced the residents. There is a need to remove silt from the river.

Reacting to this, MLA M P Appachu Ranjan said that about 50% of the silt has been removed.

There is a need to supply drinking water to each household in the district, he added.

MLC Sunil Subramani said that the officials should work in coordination.

MLC Veena Achaiah said that officials should ensure that there is no disruption in water supply in Madikeri and three Town Panchayats in the district.

Madikeri Urban Development Authority (MUDA) president Ramesh Holla said that MUDA has not developed any layouts in its jurisdiction so far.

Karnataka Water Supply and Sewage Board chief engineer Siddanayaka said that drinking water is supplied from Kootuhole and Kundramestri to Madikeri town. A jack well of 10-metre radius is being built at Kundamestri stream.

A water purification unit is functioning near Stonehill. There is a need to build a barrage across the Kundamestri stream. Eight works are being taken up under the Madikeri Nagara Nagarothana project, he informed the people at the meeting.

Earlier, the minister inspected various ongoing works in Madikeri. He also visited Kootuhole and Kundamestri project that supplies water to Madikeri.

‘Release funds for lake’

The minister directed MUDA officials to release the money earmarked for the development of lakes in CMC and Town Panchayat limits.

“The government releases money for development. It is not right on the part of the officials to let it remain unutilised. A master plan should be prepared for the development of lakes’” he added.

“I will visit Madikeri once again in March. All the incomplete pending works should be completed by them. The layouts facing acute water crisis in Somwarpet and Virajpet should be supplied water,” he directed.

Zilla Panchayat CEO Bhanwar Singh Meena, Additional DC B R Roopa, Urban Development project director Raju, CMC commissioner S V Ramdas and others were present.