The Hindu 08.10.2013
Centre clears Rs. 42-cr. drinking water project for Bantwal
The Union government has approved a Rs. 42-crore drinking water supply project to Bantwal Town Municipality under the Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns, according to a top official.
The project will increase water supply to the town threefold: from the present 4.5 million litres per day to 13.1 million litres per day, said L.N. Anand, Executive Engineer, Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board (KUWSDB), Mangalore Division.
A prominent feature of the scheme, launched by the Union Ministry of Urban Development in 2005-06, was that the local body would have to share only 10 per cent of the total project cost with the Centre bearing 80 per cent and the State government 10 per cent.
He said that the project, approved by the Union government this August, had been designed for a population of 80,000. According to the 2011 census, Bantwal Town Municipality, comprising 21 wards, had 40,155 people.
Mr. Anand said that water would be lifted from the Nethravati by constructing a jack well near Jakribettu and a treatment plant would be built at Jakribettu.
The pump house would be constructed near Kamaje Cross.
There would be five water tanks at Loret Padavu, Kursu Gudde, Mairan Pade, Uppu Gudde and Shanthi Gudde. It would require six acres of land which was yet to be handed over to the KUWSDB. The land required included both private and government land.
The authorities of Bantwal Town Municipality have been requested to hand over the land.
They could either acquire the private land or purchase it for the project.
The board would take up the project only after getting the required land. It was also awaiting a formal approval from the State government.
