The Hindu          02.03.2015   

‘Water mafia’ gets busy in new BBMP areas as summer approaches

As summer approaches, water has already become a scarce commodity in most new areas in Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) limits.

With underground water being the only source for residents of newly added areas (the erstwhile seven city municipal councils, one town municipal council and 110 villages that were added to the BBMP limits), a parallel water supply system is working right under the nose of Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB).

Exploiting the situation and forcing residents to pay through their nose is a “water mafia” that also involves local politicians and valvemen. Residents who own borewells and erstwhile city municipal council valvemen are making hay. This network is well established, for example, in Hongasandra and Begur wards.

Residents here can get regular piped water from both private and community borewells if they are ready to pay.

In New Mico Layout, borewell owners have drawn pipelines from the borewell point to houses. These lines crisscross open drainages and storm-water drains. In some places, they even run along drains, leaving enough scope for water contamination.

This apart, valvemen, allegedly in connivance with local politicians, have drawn a similar pipeline network from community borewell points to houses. Although these are community borewells and are meant for free supply, the valvemen collect charges from each house. A source alleged that a part of this money goes to the local politician.

Madhu, a valveman who manages the supply in New Mico Layout, said it was a regular supply for two to three hours in each area. He said there was no fixed charge and residents usually pay him between Rs. 50 and Rs. 100 a month.

C. Siddaiah, a resident of 16th Main ‘B’ Cross in this area, said this system ensured that residents had a regular supply. “Otherwise we have to pay heavy amounts for tanker water,” he said.

A senior BWSSB official said, “We have not got any complaints from people about being fleeced by valvemen. If there is any specific complaint, we will take action.”

The Hindu      19.02.2015  

Water transport project: German bank team to visit city tomorrow

A three-member team from the German Development Bank, KfW, will visit Kochi on February 20 and 21 to assess the possibilities of developing the inland waterways of Kochi.

An official statement from the Kochi Metro Rail Limited said the team was slated to visit the proposed metro routes, other mobility infrastructure in the city and islands that are proposed to be connected with the waterways. Further, they will also hold discussions with Elias George, Managing Director, KMRL, and meet with other stakeholders of the Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMTA).

The members of the team are Heiko Warnken, Head of Economic Cooperation and Development, German Embassy, Felix Klauda, Head of Division, Urban Development and Mobility -South Asia, and Usha Rao, Senior Sector Specialist – Energy and Transport, KfW Delhi Office

The plan mooted by the KMRL for the development of the water transport network in Kochi include rolling out new advanced hi-tech boats that are faster and more comfortable than the existing boats. The renovation of existing boat jetties, which are in a dilapidated condition, and construction of new boat jetties have also been included in the proposal. Along with the renovation of the jetties, essential facilities such as toilets and adequate parking space for the public will also be set up.

The KMRL is looking at receiving assistance to the tune of Rs. 624 crore from the German bank for improving water transport, other feeder services and non-motorised transport facilities in and around the city.

Earlier, the KMRL had prepared a preliminary project report, which was submitted to KfW for availing funds. The agency, however, sought a more comprehensive Detailed Project Report, which is now being prepared by the Urban Mass Transit Company (UMTC) under the Union Urban Affairs Ministry.

Exploring more options on water transport as a feeder system to the metro rail, the KMRL had held discussions with various stakeholders in the network on January 13. A joint team of the UMTC and the KMRL had also visited the probable water routes in the city in December, 2014.