Deccan Herald 17.12.2013
BWSSB panel to scrutinise applications for NoC
The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board
will constitute a panel to vet applications seeking no objection
certificates (NoCs) for buildings. The applications have been pending
for the past four months.
According to a BWSSB official, 12 applications have been pending with the Board awaiting NoCs.
He
said in the past the Board used to grant sanction randomly, without
checking whether or not the building proposed has a water source. This
had resulted in builders constructing apartment complexes without
ascertaining water supply, and the flat purchasers were at the receiving
end.Now, the Board will scrutinise each application against 24
parameters.
apartment complex must have a rainwater harvesting structure and a
functional sewage treatment plant to treat waste water. A dual pipeline –
one for potable and another for non-potable water, is also among the
conditions.
A majority of the housing projects coming up on the
periphery of the City do not have BWSSB connection. Builders have sunk
borewells, which dry up over a course of time, forcing the dwellers to
purchase water from tankers.
BWSSB Chairperson M S Ravishankar
told Deccan Herald that the Board has not yet started issuing NoCs, but
would be looking into the modalities to clear the pending applications.
He said a committee comprising section heads will scrutinise the applications.
The
BWSSB had suspended issue of NoCs after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah
made a statement in the Assembly that the government would not issue
NoCs for construction of highrise buildings in the City unless the
builders show a dependable source of water.
The builders also
have to obtain environment clearance from Karnataka State Pollution
Control Board and plan approval from Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara
Palike/Bangalore Development Authority.
The BWSSB has also been
designated as the implementing authority for Groundwater Regulations.
The authority is vested with the power to permit sinking of borewells in
the City. Bangalore Urban and Rural districts and areas under BBMP
limits come under “notified areas” where groundwater has been exploited
indiscriminately.
An official of the Board said that all these aspects would be considered before issuing the objection certificate.
