Water supply reforms on the anvil

Water supply reforms on the anvil
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bangalore: The water supply scenario in the state might undergo some welcome reforms as minister for urban development S Suresh Kumar has reviewed the work of Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board (KUWSB) and identified solutions.
Kumar discussed problems faced by KUWSB and presented a review of their work to the press on Thursday. One of the major issues identified was the payment of Rs 114 crore, pending from local bodies across the state. He said the interest of Rs 75 crore will be waived and local bodies urged to pay the rest in instalments.
Delay in land acquisition is becoming a hurdle in solving water woes in many parts of the state, according to KUWSB. Forty works, including some cases in Gadag, Turuvekere, Magadi, Manavi and Gangavati, are pending, because of the lengthy process of acquiring small patches. Kumar suggested that if there is no other way, they have to purchase the land. Delay in getting permission from various organizations like railways, forest department, PWD, KPTC etc is adding to the issue. There is a shortage of 90 assistant engineers. The minister suggested that recruitment be outsourced to a private body, and the posts be filled in three months.
KUSWB officials say few agencies specialize in water supply and sanitation, contributing to the delay. Though the government is floating tenders, there are almost no takers. The Karnataka Transparency Act doesn’t allow them to do work on their own. Non-availability of sufficient materials, like RCC pipes, stoneware pipes and DI pipes, are other issues. The board is constructing a theme park on ‘Water and waste water learning centre’ at Yelahanka, which will have a training centre for board employees, local bodies and the public, including plumbers and sanitary workers.
Ground water
The water table is decreasing rapidly, resulting in drying of borewells, according to an assessment made by the Board — 20 years ago, water was used from a water table of 80-150 feet, today, it is 800 feet. Most rural districts are dependent on borewells. The minister said there is an urgent need to cut down this dependence. Borewell water has been found to contain high levels of hazardous fluoride and nitrates.
toiblr.reporter@timesgroup.com