BDA, BWSSB and LDA spell out '05 tasks

BDA, BWSSB and LDA spell out '05 tasks
It's curtains down on 2004 and as the doors open for '05, the heads of BDA, BWSSB and LDA spell out their priorities for the coming year
The Times of India

M N Vidyashankar, Commissioner, Bangalore Development Authority
`Providing more comfort to Bangaloreans in the form of better infrastructure and better residential layout and improving the quality of life is our agenda.’’

Some of the short-term and long-term projects taken up by BDA are as under:

The BDA will allot 20,000 sites at a cost of Rs 939 crores in Arkavati Layout by January 2005. This will be the first fully self-contained eco-friendly layout, with practically all the components in position for a comfortable living, incorporating features like dual piping system, maintaining all the water bodies in the area, rain water harvesting and all the infrastructures fully developed Another comprehensive layout for 50,000 sites is likely to be completed during September 2005

The comprehensive Hi-tech city project has been initiated at a cost of Rs 390 crores and will be completed by December 2005. This is exclusively for the benefit of IT and BT investors. The 8.5 km six-lane super express highway coming under this project is scheduled to be complete by September 2005. This will ensure a travel time from Airport to Electronic City of only 20 minutes

BDA has taken up four flyovers at a cost of Rs 103 crores. The Dairy Circle flyover taken up at a cost of Rs 23 crores is already completed, three more flyovers at a cost of Rs 80 crores are at different stages. One of them will be completed by February 2005 and another in June 2005 A 105-km Peripheral Ring Road project at a cost of Rs 550 crores has been taken up. The project will start by mid 2005 and will cover 2,020 acres

BDA has launched work on the most ambitious customer friendly venture in the country with a proposed investment of Rs 400 million. The project entails complete automation of its database giving greater accountability and transparency in its operations. On completion, scheduled during July 2005, every Bangalorean will have access to all the information and facilities at his doorsteps through a series of fully automated 24X7 e-Pragati, kiosks. This will be the first of its kind in the country, incorporating features like Geographic Information System (GIS), registering and tracking of complaints on the kiosks, downloading information and forms through the kiosks etc

Online Complaint Management System (OCMS) and Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS) and another people - centric measures ready for launching to cater to grievance redressal
Constructions of casualty block in an area of 5,000sq meters in the premises of Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital at a cost of Rs 7.5 crores for civil and electrical work including air conditioning is under progress
A sewage treatment plant with a capacity of 1.5 MLD is under construction at Cubbon Park. Cost of the sewage treatment plant is Rs 3.7 crores. Work is scheduled to be complete by the end of February 2005.

S K Pattanayak, Chairman, Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board

`We completed the 1st Phase of Cauvery IV Stage at a cost of Rs 1072 crores completed and providing 270 MLD (Million Liters per Day) water and we have also set up seven sewage treatment plants with a capacity of 245 MLD. The online complaint management system (OCMS) was launched by the Chief Minister on November where in the customer can track the status of the complaints lodged. Some of its projects that were launched this year have received appreciation from our customers and we intend to continue to it this year too''.

Some of the projects the BWSSB will take up in the year to come are:

2nd Phase of Cauvery IV Stage project to supply 510 MLD water and 400 MLD sewage treatment facilities at a cost of Rs. 3,383 crores is at an advanced stage. Japan Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC) will finance phase 2 and the agreement will be signed in January 2005, and the work will start by March 2005. Under this project, all 362 slums of Bangalore will be supplied with water and sanitation.

A major project at a cost of Rs 300 cores to extend water supply to 8 urban local bodies around Bangalore with USAID assistance has been tendered. Sanitation work with World Bank assistance is being taken up at a cost of Rs 350 crores

A pilot project to detect leakages and reduce UFW has been taken up at a cost of Rs 50 crores. This will be extended to the entire city in the next three years at a cost of Rs 500 crores. Customer Friendly measures: 50 fully automated kiosks for payment of bills round the clock have been installed. Another 50 kiosks will be added during 2005

Avani Kumar Varma, Chief Executive Officer, Lake Development Authority

`Most of Bangalore City Lakes have become cesspools, thanks to reckless garbage and solid waste dumping, sewage disposal, encroachments and general apathy towards protective measures by the concerned civic bodies that control these lakes. The combined initiatives taken by Lake Development Authority, Bangalore Development Authority, Karnataka Forest Department and Bangalore City Corporation, about a dozen lakes were restored to their original glory with substantial value addition during 2003-04. These include Hebbal Lake, Nagavara Lake, Vengaiahnakere Lake, Benniganhalli Lake, Agarm Lake, Doddabommasandra Lake, Madivala Lake, Ulsoor Lake, Sankey Lake, Lalbagh Lake, Yediyur Lake, and Kempambudhi Lake. ‘’

Some of the projects the BWSSB will take up in the year to come are:

Work on Bellandur Lake and Jaraganahalli Lake (Sarakki, J P Nagar) is in full swing and will be completed during 2005. The development works have changed the City landscape with cleaner lakes providing much needed relief and joy to the Citizen and visitors, apart from brining back the bird population and reviving the aquafauna of these lakes

Lake Development Authority would continue tackling other highly polluted lakes of the city during 2005 and a plan for Rs 37.20 crores has been submitted to Government of India for providing

funds for restoration of 12 city lakes. These include, Yelahanka, Doddakere, Allalasandra, Doddanekundi, Vibhutipura, Dorekere, Subramanyapura/- Kadirenahalli, Dasarahalli/- Chokksandra, Madavara, Puttenhalli (JP Nagar) and Arekere Lakes. All the above mentioned lakes are in a high state of pollution and are in urgent need of attention. These lakes would be restored and beautified once the above funds are released

In addition to it, there are plans to develop Puttenahalli (Yelahanka) and Jakkur Lake at a cost of around Rs 5 crores. Lake Development Authority has sought concessional long term loan from KUIDFC, who have given 'in principle' approval for the above lakes and are examining the Detailed Project Report submitted by the former

The Lake Development Authority has also requested Bangalore Development Authority to develop 3 lakes situated within the proposed Arkavathy Layout namely R a ch e n a h a l l i , Dasarahalli and Amruthalli, which would be a great value addition to above layout. Bangalore Development Authority is considering the above proposal favourably


M N Vidyashankar,

Commissioner, Bangalore Development Authority
“ Redefining the BDA persona to be more people-centric and responsive and completion of all the projects taken up in a specified time frame will dominate BDA's task chart this year”.


S K Pattanayak,

Chairman, Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board
“ We have had good rains this year so I don't think Bangaloreans will have the problem of water scarcity this summer. The BWSSB is involved in many projects ranging from minor to mega projects and all the projects will be completed on schedule”.


Avani Kumar Varma,

Chief Executive Officer, Lake Development Authority
“ Ever since its inception in July 2002, the Lake Development Authority has taken up the important task of protection, rejuvenation and conservation of rapidly disappearing urban lakes”.