Pipe dream: More water for city

Pipe dream: More water for city
BENGALURU


Article Rank





[Click To Enlarge]



: The state govern ment is seriously contemplating introduction of dual pipeline system in the city, said Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board and Benguluru district in-charge minister Katta Subramanya Naidu.

Mr Naidu who was taking note of problems, recommendations and solutions aired by citizens, NGOs and other organisations on civic issues in the city, said that the government would make it mandatory in all the new areas from this year onwards only. “While one pipeline will supply drinking water, the second pipeline will supply water for secondary and tertiary purposes, as is done in western countries.” The minister also said that sanitation works will start in the new areas, while works on changing old sanitary lines in core Bengaluru will be completed simultaneously in one and a half year's time.

“There is no dearth of funds. The Chief Minister has already released Rs 100 crore for supply of water to the erstwhile CMCs and TMC as part of the mini water scheme. The whole of Bengaluru will receive water every day by the year 2011,” he added.

He said that lake conservation was the main priority, as water from these lakes would be recycled to meet the demand. He also said that the government would soon fix taxes to assist BBMP carry out its developmental works.

Issues related to water, urban poor, housing and solid waste management were deliberated during this session with representatives of agencies concerned highlighting the works taken up and the way forward.

Latha Krishna Rao, chairperson BWSSB said that the city was facing a water shortage of 41 per cent. She said that by year 2015 the total demand would be 2172 million litres per day (MLD), while the supply would be 1,470 MLD. “To meet the shortfall of 702 MLD the alternatives are to adopt rain water harvesting, reducing unaccounted for water and integrated water management.” Ms Rao also said that in future BWSSB was planning to tap water from lakes.

Shortly, water will be drawn from five lakes in the city.

About 50 MLD water from Nagavara lake, 20 MLD from Kalkere, 30 MLD from Kengeri, 150 MLD from Bellandur and 20 MLD of water from KR Puram lake will be recycled and supplied to meet water shortage.

Shobha Nambisan, principal secretary, housing, said that very soon the Karnataka Slum Clearance Board would initiate an integrated housing project for slum dwellers under JNNURM.

“Here housing and infrastructure will be provided for simultaneously,” she said. In the first phase 30 slums with 17,603 houses will be taken up on August 1 this year at a cost of Rs 252.18 crore. While 16 slums with 3,151 houses will be taken up on August 1, at a cost of Rs 124 crore.

Both projects would be completed in 18 months.

She said that slum dwellers disliked vertical construction of houses and that the Board had convinced 46 slum dwellers of building ground plus three floors.

She also said that the Board would train the residents in construction work and masonry. This will not only reduce costs, it will also give the slum dwellers employment opportunities.

She also said that the state government was mulling on forming a policy for urban poor on the lines of the rural housing policy. Ms Nambisan said that the Board would direct all urban agencies concerned to earmark 25 per cent of funds for EWS and 25 per cent for lower income groups.

BBMP DC (resources) U.A. Vasanth Rao said that the Palike would shortly present a comprehensive policy to tackle the stray dog population in the city, which was at the moment waiting for clearance.

Most slum dwellers do not even have toi lets and bathrooms.

They urinate and bathe in nearby parks, while the women cook meals outside their homes.

It is amazing that people can live with so little.

SHOBHA NAMBISAN Principal secretary, housing From Monday, solid waste dumping vehicles fitted with GPS will carry garbage from Bengaluru and dump it in Doddaballapur.

Efforts are also being made to ensure that the garbage contractors are paying the right share to BBMP.

VASANTH RAO BBMP, DC (Resources) The funds required to introduce rain water harvesting was Rs 250 crore. The BBMP was spending Rs 600 crore to remove the rain water that was clogging the drains HUCHAPPA Ex-mayor, Bengaluru The value of my house may be Rs 1 crore. But it has nil value as I am not sell ing it. But taxing me assuming that I am making money by selling the house is unfair G.K. RAO Senior citizen on CVS One of the top five management gurus Kenichi Ohmae said “Bengaluru has more IQ based mathemat ics competent people in absolute numbers than anywhere else on earth.” This simply means that Bengaluru has the most intelli gent people.

They just need to come together A RAVINDRA former chief secretary The dependence on public transport is about 39 per cent now. It has to increase to 92 per cent by 2015.

Or, the roads would be clogged with pri vate vehicles YASH SACHDEVA, Traffic expert About 75 per cent of corporate tax, 80 per cent of sales tax and 90 per cent of luxury tax are coming from Bengaluru alone. But to develop its infrastructure, there is a shortage of Rs 12,300 crore From the proceedings of ABIDE The dependence on public transport is about 39 per cent now. It has to incre ase to 92 per cent by 2015. Or, the roads would be clogged with private vehicles From the proceedings of ABIDE