The Hindu                 24.05.2013

Pumping restored, but most areas in Bangalore yet to get usual supply

All pumps are switched on, but pressure is still low: BWSSB

Although Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) officials claimed that normal pumping of water from Thorekadanahalli, Harohalli and Tataguni reservoirs had resumed, residents of most areas are yet to get regular supply.

Residents in east Bangalore, especially Pillanna Garden, HRBR Layout, Banaswadi, Hennur and surrounding areas, where water scarcity is a perennial problem, said they had not received water for the last five supply days. The supply here is mostly once in four days and that too for not more than two hours. Besides, the pressure is also very low, said a resident.

No water

Supply was hit in the last two days in areas such as Padmanabhanagar and Banashankari that were getting their regular quota even during the crisis.

“During the crisis we [willingly] gave water from our underground sump to whoever came to us from the neighbouring slums. But in the last two days we have not got any water,” said M. Madhu from Padmanabhanagar.

Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board, which had stopped 15 of the total 60 motors after the level in Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) plummeted, resumed pumping from all motors on Tuesday. “In the last few days we were drawing only 835 million litres of water per day (mld) although the requirement was 1,150 mld because we did not have the required 600 cusecs at the Shiva Balancing Reservoir (SBR).

Following the release of water from KRS and Hemavathi river and the gradual increase in the water level, we have resumed pumping 1,150 mld from Tuesday,” a top BWSSB official said.

Another day

It would take another day’s supply for the problem to be mitigated across the city.

“The pressure is low because water is being supplied to several areas simultaneously. Besides, we have reduced the duration of supply to ensure that all such areas scheduled to get water on Thursday are covered,” the official added.

The Hindu                 24.05.2013

Rs. 40 cr. released to ULBs to tackle drinking water shortage

Funds to be used to drill borewells.

The State government has released Rs. 40 crore to urban local bodies to take steps to arrange for drinking water supply till the onset of the monsoon.

Announcing this at a press conference in Bangalore on Thursday, Minister for Municipalities and Local Bodies, Public Enterprises and Minorities Welfare Qamar-ul Islam said this allocation would be in addition to the Rs. 18.72 crore that was already available with the Municipalities Department.

He said that the additional allocation of Rs. 40 crore could be used for deepening and cleaning the borewells, drilling additional borewells, repair of water supply lines and installation of motor pumps. The Minister said that the government would provide more funds if need be.

The allocation to districts and ULBs were made on the basis of population. Belgaum district has got the highest allocation of Rs. 3.75 crore followed by Kolar (Rs. 2.50 crore), Tumkur (Rs. 2.40 crore), Mysore (Rs. 2.35 crore) and Bangalore (Rs. 20 lakh).

Officials warned

He said action would be taken against officials of the Urban Local Bodies if they failed to collect cent per cent property tax, water tax and advertisement fee.

He added that the State Finance Commission grants would be stopped for ULBs that fall short of revenue collection targets.

When asked how the government would tackle the drinking water shortage as a large number of borewells catering to drinking water supply schemes had failed, the Minister looked towards the skies indicating that only rains could provide solution.

Women’s reservation

Mr. Islam noted that guidelines for preparing the reservation list for election of presidents and vice-presidents for the ULBs are being worked out.

There would be 50 p.c. reservation for women for top posts, he said, adding that they had only 33 per cent reservation during their election as members.

Mr. Qamar-ul Islam said that the government would provide training in administration to the newly elected members of the Urban Local Bodies at the State Institute for Urban Development-Mysore.