The Hindu 21.12.2010
Deadline for BWSSB to sort out pending issues
Staff Reporter
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Civic chiefs and officials hold discussions with Minister |
Bangalore: Minister for Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board
(BWSSB) S. Suresh Kumar on Monday set a deadline of January 5 for the
water board to sort out pending issues with other service providers.
The Minister, who had a meeting with heads of BWSSB, Bruhat Bangalore
Mahanagara Palike and the Bangalore Development Authority, along with
other senior officials and advisers to the Chief Minister A. Ravindra
(Urban Affairs) and K.V. Raju (Financial), directed the officials to
work in coordination to address the city’s infrastructure problems.
The water board has several issues pending with the BDA and the BBMP
such as allotment of land for ground-level reservoirs in BDA layouts,
recovery of water bills for water supplied to BBMP buildings and
restoration of roads after they are dug up for laying pipes. BWSSB
officials gave a detailed presentation regarding these issues to the
Minister on Monday.
“I have directed the BWSSB to address the pending issues by January 5
as any delay in setting up ground-level reservoirs would further delay
supply of water in newly added areas,” the Minister told The Hindu after
the meeting. Pointing out that the BBMP owed nearly Rs. 150-crore to
the BWSSB towards water charges and reimbursement for completed works,
the Minister said BBMP officials had agreed to clear bills to the tune
of Rs. 40 crore shortly.
Grants
Sources said the Minister was convinced that the water board needs to
be given government grants similar to what BBMP gets (from the State
Finance Commission). “The board’s revenue depends only on water charges
from which it has to meet all expenses towards salaries of employees and
maintenance and establishment of infrastructure,” sources said.
“While the water board spends nearly Rs. 33 on bringing one
kilo-litre of water from the Cauvery to the city, it is supplied at a
cost ranging between Rs. 6 to Rs. 26. The board badly needs government
grants for sustaining in the long run,” the sources pointed out.
However, the issue of hiking water tariff was not discussed at the
meeting. The Minister has assured to convene another meeting shortly to
resolve these issues, the sources added.
