Projects Suffer As BWSSB Trips Up On Many Deadlines

Flush out water woes in summer?
Projects Suffer As BWSSB Trips Up On Many Deadlines
The Times of India


Bangalore: Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) recently sent shockwaves by hiking water rates just before summer. To cool things off, BWSSB chairman S.K. Pattanayak has promised that there would not be any water shortage this summer.

There are several projects that have got delayed. But the novel idea of the Board to take up work of rejuvenating about 20 ageold underground reservoirs will go a long way in reducing contamination of water.

Choked lines
The Rs 250-crore project taken up to plug leakages — unaccounted for water — was to be completed by December 2004. This project was aimed at identifying leakages which would reduce both water pilferage and contamination. Now, the deadline is extended to March. “With the completion of this project, it means more water supply,’’ he said.

The long-pending work of rejuvenating the seven sewage treatment systems under the National River Conservation Plan, floated in June 2003, was expected to be completed in August 2004. The deadline is now March 2005.
The refurbishment of the old sewage treatment plant at K&C Valley, that had seen corrosion, will be completed by May end.

IN THE PIPELINE

The BWSSB will commence the Rs 3,400-crore project for second phase of Cauvery IV stage water supply this year with the assistance of Japan Bank for International Co-operation. Come April, the water supply distribution project will be extended to the seven CMCs and the lone TMC. Pattanayak assured that this project would be completed by 2006-end. At present, the city’s adjoining areas comprising BDA, BCC, the seven CMCs and one TMC require approximately 900 MLD of water but the BWSSB supply is restricted to just 690 MLD.

Still fluid

The common complaint of water contamination still continues. Some consumers still experience sewage mixing with drinking water.”Whenever we get complaints, we repair them. If we get repeated complaints from certain parts of the city, we replace the line. We have done that in parts of old city market area.’’