Former Mayors P R Ramesh, G Huchchappa and some former corporators submitted a memorandum to the CM Siddaramaiah requesting him to constitute a special authority to monitor water usage and to pass laws required to regulate water usage in the city.

Speaking to the reporters, Ramesh said, “We can generate at least 12 tmcft of water by efficiently harvesting the rain water and treating the sewerage generated in the city. Nearly 40 per cent of the water that is pumped into the city goes unaccounted for and the government should do whatever is necessary to minimise it.”

Ramesh wanted the government to make the laying of duel pipelines mandatory in the new layouts for pumping treated water and drinking water and focus on effectively harvesting the rain water for recharging the groundwater.

Huchchappa accused the BBMP Council of neglecting the issues related to the city. He said that the corporators lack foresight about the problems that the city might face. They should focus on conserving the water and channelising the alternate sources of water, he observed.

Pay Contractors Online: Councillor

Yediyur Councilor N R Ramesh has urged Commissioner Siddaiah to adopt an online system for payment of bills to contractors. In a letter to the Commissioner, Ramesh alleged that contractors end up paying 25 per cent of the amount sanctioned for works to officers at BBMP to move their files. Adopting online system will bring more transparency, he said.

The contractors should send the photograph of completed works to Commissioner’s official email ID. The Commissioner should send it to the Zonal Commissioner who should inspect the spot. Zonal Commissioners should send a certified copy of the same to Commissioner, he said. Ramesh also said that if they follow online system BBMP can save up to 25 per cent cost. “We have developed a software through which BBMP can adopt online payment,” he said.

T Sheshadri, IT Advisor, BBMP, said he has received instructions from Special Commissioner K R Niranjan to look into it.