The Hindu 21.12.2010
Deadline for BWSSB to sort out pending issues
| Civic chiefs and officials hold discussions with Minister |
Bangalore: Minister for Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) S. Suresh Kumar on Monday set a deadline of January 5 for the water board to sort out pending issues with other service providers.
The Minister, who had a meeting with heads of BWSSB, Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike and the Bangalore Development Authority, along with other senior officials and advisers to the Chief Minister A. Ravindra (Urban Affairs) and K.V. Raju (Financial), directed the officials to work in coordination to address the city's infrastructure problems.
The water board has several issues pending with the BDA and the BBMP such as allotment of land for ground-level reservoirs in BDA layouts, recovery of water bills for water supplied to BBMP buildings and restoration of roads after they are dug up for laying pipes. BWSSB officials gave a detailed presentation regarding these issues to the Minister on Monday.
“I have directed the BWSSB to address the pending issues by January 5 as any delay in setting up ground-level reservoirs would further delay supply of water in newly added areas,” the Minister told The Hindu after the meeting. Pointing out that the BBMP owed nearly Rs. 150-crore to the BWSSB towards water charges and reimbursement for completed works, the Minister said BBMP officials had agreed to clear bills to the tune of Rs. 40 crore shortly.
Grants
Sources said the Minister was convinced that the water board needs to be given government grants similar to what BBMP gets (from the State Finance Commission). “The board's revenue depends only on water charges from which it has to meet all expenses towards salaries of employees and maintenance and establishment of infrastructure,” sources said.
“While the water board spends nearly Rs. 33 on bringing one kilo-litre of water from the Cauvery to the city, it is supplied at a cost ranging between Rs. 6 to Rs. 26. The board badly needs government grants for sustaining in the long run,” the sources pointed out.
However, the issue of hiking water tariff was not discussed at the meeting. The Minister has assured to convene another meeting shortly to resolve these issues, the sources added.
