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BWSSB panel to scrutinise applications for NoC

Tuesday, 17 December 2013 10:27 administrator
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Deccan Herald            17.12.2013

BWSSB panel to scrutinise applications for NoC

A majority of the housing projects on the outskirts of the City don't have BWSSB connection.

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.

The conditions for issue of NoC stipulate that the 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.