The Hindu 14.10.2010
24x7 drinking water scheme to be extended to all wards
Special Correspondent
| It is now being tried out in 11 wards in Gulbarga city |
The feasibility report for the project will
be prepared by TCS
The corporation will require Rs. 150 crore
to complete work
GULBARGA: The dream of the people of Gulbarga city to get drinking water round the clock will soon become a reality, with the Gulbarga City Corporation deciding to extend the 24x7 drinking water scheme to all the 55 wards.
Manoj Jain, Commissioner of the Gulbarga City Corporation, told presspersons here on Wednesday that at present the 24x7 drinking water scheme was being implemented in 11 wards. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) had been entrusted with submitting the feasibility report on the project, he added.
Mr. Jain said that TCS had sought eight months to complete the study and submit their report, and based on the feasibility report the 24x7 drinking water supply scheme would be extended in phases to the remaining 44 wards.
He said that at present the 24x7 drinking water supply scheme is being implemented in select wards in Gulbarga, Hubli-Dharwad and Belgaum City Corporation limits. However, unlike in Belgaum and Hubli-Dharwad, there was no shortage of drinking water in Gulbarga, which besides having a perennial source, the Bhima river, had the Bennethora river and the Bhosga tank as alternative sources.
Funds
Mr. Jain said that there was no shortage of funds for taking up the scheme. According to a rough estimate, the corporation may require Rs. 150 crore to extend the scheme to all the wards. The funds available under the Chief Minister's special package for tier 2 cities could also be used for implementation of the scheme.
To a question, Mr. Jain said that the Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development and Finance Corporation, which was the nodal agency implementing the 24x7 drinking water supply scheme, would supervise the extension of the scheme to all the wards.
