Mega water project well on its way

Mega water project well on its way
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: Greater Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Project (GBWASP) of Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) is going ahead as planned, with work in two project areas almost completed. Thirty percent of the work in Kengeri and Yelahanka, two urban local bodies (ULBs), has been completed. Pipes have been laid, but feeder units are still to be installed. The work in these two areas will be completed by January-end, said a BWSSB official. The project, which covers eight ULBs around Bangalore in an area of 285 sq km, apart from the two areas mentioned, also includes Byatarayanapura, K R Puram, Mahadevapura, Bommanahalli, R R Nagara and Dasarahalli. Work like pipe-laying, setting up of feeder units and road laying in the final phase will be completed by December next year. “This is merely the water component. There is also a sewerage component,” said the official. The water component cost of Rs 341 crore, which is estimated to increase by Rs 60 crore, will be managed by Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation (KUIDFC). There are no funds coming in from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) for the water component, but only for the sewerage component, said the official.

The BWSSB had met World Bank authorities in September to finalise the sewerage component of the project and IFC may provide funds of Rs 318 crores. Consultants for project management have been shortlisted. Meanwhile, talks on an urban poor policy are in the offing. “But the tariff will not change between the ULBs and the rest of Bangalore. We will charge what we are charging at present in other areas,” said the official.