Pipelines dampen City’s dream

Pipelines dampen City’s dream
Wednesday March 26 2008 10:54 IST

Bosky Khanna

BANGALORE: The rain gods have been kind, but it is not benefiting Bangalore in any way with its increasing demand and the low watercarrying capacity of the pipelines.

The increased water stored will only benefit the city in 2012, when higher capacity pipelines are supposed to be ready to carry more water.

The rains have increased the present water level of Krishnarajasagar and Kabini by 1.5 tmc (thousand million cubic feet) which feeds water to the Cauvery basin for most parts of Bangalore.

The existing water pipelines can annually pump only 12 tmc, but the city requires 19 tmc to meet its demands.

Bangalore receives 910 million litres per day (mld) of water from the Hemavathi, Cauvery basin and the Kabini river via Torekadanahally (TK Halli), which is insufficient.

The present demand is 1,400 mld, which BWSSB pipelines are unable to supply due to their small diameter and limited load capacity.

BWSSB has the capacity to pump 130 mld from Tippagondahalli (TG Halli), but it supplies only 30 mld as the reservoir is fast drying up.

Last year the Nandi Hills, Shivagange Hills and Arkavathi river did not receive sufficient rainfall, leading to water scarcity.

BWSSB sources said increasing rainfall or water scarcity in the Cauvery basin will have no immediate affect on the city’s water supply as there is constant water flowing from the reservoir through channels and canals.

Water from the Shivanakatte canal is pumped into the Netkal Balancing Reservoir from where it is further pumped through 103 kms to TK Halli, finally reaching Bangalore.

“BWSSB plans to increase water supply by an additional 510 mld of water, which will be operational from 2012.

With a budget of Rs 3,400 crore, the plan of introducing two more water sources of Cauvery 4th and 2nd stage will be executed,” sources added.