The Times of India                          19.03.2013

Kajauli water project continues to hang fire

CHANDIGARH: The ambitious project to bring 40MGD additional water supply to the city by laying separate water pipeline from Kajauli to city is still hanging fire as the stakeholders - UT, Punjab and Haryana - have not reached at a common consensus yet on the water sharing issue. Despite innumerable meetings between officials to sort the issue, no solution has come out so far. Initially, Punjab government had rejected the proposal to give land to lay the water pipelines and allow water supply to UT, claiming that their district (Mohali) is their first priority and it needs the water too. But after a series of deliberations, it was decided that a single pipeline with additional diameter will be laid and both Punjab and UT will get water through it. However, Haryana government did not agree to Punjab's proposal of laying a pipeline of a larger diameter in contemplation of phase VII and VIII, because earlier they had given consent to lay down the pipeline in phase V and VI. Haryana also mentioned that Chandigarh has entered in an agreement with Punjab to provide water to Mohali under phase V and VI by keeping the Haryana government in dark. They proposed that if Punjab requires additional water for Mohali, it should draw the same from Anandpur Hydel Channel.

Besides UT and Punjab, Haryana also has a share in the Bhakra canal and a consent from all three stakeholders is required for additional supply. Meanwhile, UT has already received a grant of over Rs 170 crore for the project from Centre.

The Hindu                           19.03.2013

Water scarcity worries BBMP councillors

Staff Reporter 

With a crisis looming, several councillors raised concern over water shortage, defunct borewells and plummeting groundwater levels at the subject meeting of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) council here on Saturday.

Several councillors accused the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) officials of non-cooperation and that they ignored their complaints.

Commissioner Siddaiah said that the BBMP council had resolved (during the previous meeting) to provide Rs. 30 lakh for newly added areas and Rs. 10 lakh for old wards to repair and maintain the existing borewells, besides sinking new ones.

He also urged the councillors to submit a proposal to him regarding the need to sink new borewells. He assured the council of discussing with the BWSSB officials the need to hold a special meeting to discuss citizens’ water woes.

The former Deputy Mayor S. Harish said that the city’s parks were ill-maintained. “Citizens have been complaining about plants withering due to lack of water and maintenance. Some even went to the extent saying that the BBMP could develop sites and distribute them,” he said and added that the officials of the Horticulture and Projects departments were blaming each other instead of maintaining the parks.

Mr. Siddaiah said that the claim was exaggerated and pointed out that landscaped parks that had lawns required a lot of water and maintenance. “Instead of having landscaped parks, the BBMP can develop tree parks, which require minimum maintenance,” he said.

Garbage

Councillors of Yelahanka zone complained about garbage contractor B.V.G. India Ltd. and stated that it had failed to have in place the requisite manpower and equipment required as per the terms and conditions.

Opposition Leader M.K. Gunashekar said that in several wards, the pourakarmikas had not been paid in three months.

“However, the contractors who employ them claim that only one month’s salary is pending. The pourakarmikas are now refusing to clear garbage.” Mr. Siddaiah said that he had instructed the zonal commissioners to penalise the contractors who had violated the terms. He also said the BBMP had cleared all bills till February.

Resolutions

The BBMP council resolved to urge the government to allocate 10 acres in all eight zones in the city for burial grounds.

It resolved to entrust works taken up under government funding, Mayor and Deputy Mayor’s funds and those earmarked for the Standing Committee for Taxation and Finance, to Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Ltd.

It sought renaming the airport after Kempe Gowda and to install an 18-foot equestrian statue of his.