Builders and developers, who were struggling to get no-objection
certificates (NOC) from the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board
(BWSSB) for their projects, can now heave a sigh of relief.

The
Board has decided to start issuing NOCs in areas where it supplies
Cauvery water. The issuing of NOCs was stopped a while ago owing to
water scarcity. However, with the commissioning of the Cauvery IV Stage
II Phase drinking water project, the BWSSB has resumed the process.

Speaking
to Express, chairman of the BWSSB, M S Ravishankar, said, “We are
constituting a committee consisting of senior engineers, who will
evaluate each application, and issue NOCs. The committee will also fix
charges for providing infrastructure based on the size of the project,
water requirements and distance between the site and our pipeline.”

However,
BWSSB will not issue NOCs for projects in around 110 villages that were
recently added to Bangalore city as it does not supply water to the
area.

An NOC is mandatory for every construction project to obtain
clearance. Till now, the BWSSB provided NOCs for projects where the
builder could prove that arrangements for alternate sources of water had
been made. However, recently, this practice was stopped.

For high
rises and apartments, builders will have to meet around 24 conditions,
including sewage treatment plants for apartments with over 100 units and
rainwater harvesting facilities.