The Hindu 27.06.2013
Sorake directs officials to prepare plan for improving civic amenities
Urban Development Minister Vinay Kumar Sorake has said the Union government will be approached for financial assistance to develop and improve basic civic amenities and facilities in urban areas.
Presiding over a review meeting of the Bellary City Corporation and the Bellary Urban Development Authority here on Wednesday, he said the Centre was willing to extend financial assistance if approached with detailed proposals, especially those concerning drinking water supply and underground drainage.
“I have asked officials to prepare a detailed plan for Rs. 2,000 crore,” he added.
The Minister said that he would hold review meetings every three months and get senior officials of his department, so that he could “try to solve at least some of the problems then and there.”
He instructed the Corporation Commissioner to make use of the Central schemes to provide civic amenities and also prioritise utilisation of funds reserved for the welfare of SC/ST and physically disabled.
The Minister wanted an explanation on why water was being supplied only once a week.
Yunus Basha, Executive Engineer, Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board, said that bulk supply was looked after by the board. Water is being pumped at the required rate of 120 litres per capita per day, while internal distribution was being overseen by the corporation.
Due to some irregularities, some influential persons obtained water connections from the main pipelines, which was one of the reasons for inequitable distribution, Mr. Basha said.
D.L. Narayan, Commissioner, said 502 such unauthorised connections had been identified.
Efforts were being made to identify the problem with the distribution system, which was very old. The Minister instructed him to disconnect unauthorised connections and streamline the system.
