The Deccan Herald 03.09.2010
Builders, contact Katta for water connections
P M Raghunandan, Bangalore, September 2, DHNS:
Worried about BWSSB not sanctioning water supply or sanitary connection to a multi-storeyed building? Approach BWSSB Minister Katta Subramanya Naidu.
Additional Chief Secretary to Urban Development Department Subir Hari Singh has in a letter dated August 19, 2010 to BWSSB Chairman P B Ramamurthy, a copy of which is available with Deccan Herald stated: “All files related to water supply and sanitary connection should be brought to the Minister’s notice and further action should be taken only after his approval.”
Unscientific management
The minister quoted reckless discharge of sewage water into drains and unscientific management of water supply and sewerage connections as reasons behind his latest stance.
Earlier, this year, the minister was quoted as saying severe water scarcity in the City as the reason behind stopping new water connection till 2011.
The number of BWSSB consumers has shot up from 2.90 lakh to 6.10 lakh since 2002. However, the total water being pumped from river Cauvery to Bangalore (which was 860 million litres per day) has not increased, the minister pointed out.
The minister’s announcement has put hundreds of residential apartments and commercial complex projects in limbo. People who have booked new flats with builders have to wait with their fingers crossed.
However, neither the BWSSB nor the Department of Urban Development has issued any official order regarding not sanctioning new connection.
The Department of Urban Development has in a letter to BWSSB directed it to send a list of files to the minister.
According to official sources, the Minister’s announcement has come as a surprise to BWSSB officials. In response, BWSSB chairman immediately shot off a letter (on July 24) to the Urban Development Department seeking a clarification. However, to be on the safer side, BWSSB has stopped receiving applications seeking new water and sanitary connection to apartments and commercial complex projects, officials said.
Clarification
The Urban Development Department clarifying the issue, directed the BWSSB to submit all files pertaining to the sanctioning of new connections to the minister, in August.
As per the rule book, the chief engineer has powers to sanction new connections with pro rata charges (development charges) above Rs 5 lakh and below Rs 10 lakh. The Chairman has the power to sanction connection with above Rs 10 lakh pro rata charges.
Normally, any connection with above Rs 5 lakh pro rata charge falls under multi-storeyed category.
When contacted, BWSSB Chief Engineer Venkat Raju said the Board has received the letter. “We have received the letter but have not yet begun the process of receiving new applications. A decision will be arrived at after consultation with the Board,” he said.
This apart, the Minister has also directed BWSSB officials to seek his approval for tender worth above Rs 50 lakh.
