The New Indian Express 30.08.2010
Minister plans for extra 500 mld water for city
Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) Minister Katta Subramanya Naidu on Sunday said it will be pumped from other sources.
The work for the project may be allotted in the next six months, he said.
The minister, who inspected the work at the Cauvery IV Stage II Phase drinking water project on Sunday, said the plan was made keeping the demand in the future in mind.
"According to estimates, the city would need at least 2,000 mld of potable water by 2025," he said. "We are making plans to meet that demand to avoid the sort of water scarcity that the city is facing now."
He said the project will be completed by 2013.
"We are also planning to recycle 1,000 mld of sewage and supply it for nonpotable purposes," he said. "This will make the supply for the 3,000 mld by 2014."
Katta also said the water board was exploring the possibility of starting a project on publicprivate partnership basis and reimbursing the private partners after the board receives the loan for the project to avoid delay.
"Very soon tenders would be floated to upgrade the Sewage Treatment Plant in Vrishabavathi Valley to 300 MLD capacity," he said.
Also, the promoters of Bidadi Gas based power plant have requested the water board for 90 MLD of treated water. "In turn they will supply electricity at a subsidised rate," he said.
Cauvery IV Stage II Phase
The minister said all the sanctioned works of Cauvery IV Stage II Phase were being carried out and 32 per cent of it was completed in the last five months.
"Though the companies were given time till January 2012 to complete the works, they had agreed to complete it by October 2011 on our request," he said. "I am planning to request them to complete the work by July 2011."
The minister said `671 crore has already been spent on this project.
"Cauvery water would be supplied to the newly added areas of the city as soon as the project is completed," he said. "Around 248 MLD would be channelised to the eastern part of the city and the remaining 252 MLD would be channelised to the western and northern parts."
Katta also said the government was committed to rejuvenate the tanks and lakes in the city to replenish groundwater.
