Urban News

  • Increase font size
  • Default font size
  • Decrease font size
Water Supply

Water scarcity around biggest City lake

Monday, 11 October 2010 10:11 administrator
Print PDF

The Deccan Herald  11.10.2010

Water scarcity around biggest City lake

Bangalore, Oct 10, DH News Service:

If you are planning to take your kid to the City’s biggest lake – Bellandur lake – visit your doctor for a list of precautions you need to take.

For almost 350-odd million litres of untreated sewerage is let into the lake every day.

Yes, even as civic authorities in the City are busy preparing blueprints for conserving water, and seeking newer sources to draw it,  saving the existing lakes appears to skip their minds.

And Bellandur lake is probably one of the victims. Part of Bellandur sewerage system that covers southern and the south-eastern parts of the City, has been polluting the lake beyond its natural ability to neutralise.

Further, the conversion of watershed area of the lake to residential and commercial plots has resulted in an enhanced silt movement – lowering water yield in the catchment, affecting the groundwater recharge.

And this proves to be a big problem for the citizens who heavily depend on borewells, as there is no Cauvery water connection to the locality.

While the pollution is apparent, the problems caused by it still misses the eyes of the citizens, who have got used to the polluted environment. Doctors in the locality told Deccan Herald that respiratory infections and throat problems are common in the area. But there aren’t any skin-related issues reported.

However, Bellandur Corporator Babu Reddy exuded confidence that the problems related to the lake will soon be sorted out. “We are aware of the problems relating to the lake. In fact, Rs 198-crore plan has been approved by the BBMP to clean up the lake and a treatment plant will soon be set up,” he said, adding that plans are also on to get direct water from Cauvery.

Last Updated on Monday, 11 October 2010 10:14
 

Govt hospitals check water wastage after four decades

Monday, 11 October 2010 10:09 administrator
Print PDF

The Deccan Herald  11.10.2010

Govt hospitals check water wastage after four decades

Subhash Chandra N S, Bangalore, Oct 10, DH News Service:

Water leakage in six government hospitals, that drained out crores of rupees over the last four decades, is finally history.

Following a Lok Adalat order, the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has, at last, plugged the water leakage by laying new pipelines at Victoria Hospital, Vani Vilas Hospital, Minto Hospital, Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital, K C General Hospital and Gousia Hospital. This has helped the hospitals to save on the water bills. Water bills ran that up to Rs 75 lakh for every hospital, is now about Rs 10 lakh or even less.

During the hearing of a matter on Bellandur lake pollution on January, 20 2009, the hospital authorities submitted that they were paying more than Rs 75 lakh each as water bill, which surprised the bench headed Justice K L Manjunath and member Yelappa Reddy. The bench directed the authorities concerned for an inspection.   
After a joint inspection by the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) and hospital authorities, a proposal was made to replace the 150 mm and 100 mm diameter pipes in these hospital premises.

Bangalore Medical College (BMC) Superintendent G T Subhash said that not only water wastage has been checked but also bills have come down drastically. “Our bills are now below Rs 10 lakh, while it used to be three to four times higher earlier,” he said.

He further said that the pipelines were laid before 1940. Wastage was high as they were corroded. “To add to this the BWSSB was charging us commercial rates for the water. But following the adalat directions they are now charging domestic rates,” he added. Vasudevan, a City-based advocate on whose initiative, the PIL was heard said new pipelines were laid at a cost of Rs 20 crore and the drinking water pipeline has been separated from the nonpotable one.

According to the submission by the BWSSB, between January 2009 - September 2009 Bowring Hospital alone consumed water between between 44,023,000 litres (January) and 14,514,000 (September 2009). Post-replacement, there is a steep decline in water consumption which was between 3,104,900 litres (Jan 2010) and 9,914,000 (September 2010).

In Victoria hospital, the water consumption was recorded at 49,535,000 litres in March 2009 and 51,187,000 litres in September, 2009. However, now the consumption has come down to 28,660,000 in September 2010. The hospitals will soon be submitting an affidavit to the Adalat in this regard.

Last Updated on Monday, 11 October 2010 10:11
 

Shakti Ganapati Nagar cries for water

Monday, 11 October 2010 08:40 administrator
Print PDF

The New  Indian Express   11.10.2010

Shakti Ganapati Nagar cries for water

BANGALORE: The residents of Shakti Ganapati Nagar ward demand the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagar Palike (BBMP) authorities to pressurise the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) authorities to supply water regularly.

The residents, especially those of 3rd Cross, complain that the BWSSB officials are prompt in dispatching water bills regularly but supply water once in 15 days. “We have to pay money for the quantity of water that was not supplied to us. It is unfair. I appeal the BBMP authorities to make the BWSSB to supply water regularly,’’ said Govinda Rao, a resident.

Many cross roads at this ward are yet to be asphalted. The residents complain that the BBMP authorities are concretising the roads instead of asphalting. “I am not able to understand the logic behind concretising 20-ft wide roads instead of asphalting,’’ says C R Shivamma, a housewife.

The residents also complain that drunkards, after having liquor at Vijayalakshmi Bar and Restaurant, creates nuisance by relieving themselves at a mini water tank near Ganesha Temple. “It has become a nuisance for us. The drunkards not only creates nuisance but also indulge in fisticuffs at night. There are occasions where they indulge in verbal duel thus disturbing the residents,’’ says Shivamma.

The residents also want the BBMP to provide a playground for children. “We have no playground facility here. It will be a great help for the children of this area if the BBMP provides a playground,’’ says H B Santosh, a resident.

Meanwhile, Padmavathi Srinivas, Corporator, says efforts will be made to ensure water supply on regular basis. “There is a problem with a valve. I had already advised the BWSSB officials to rectify it. I am ready to supply water through tankers if the need arises. The residents can contact me over the phone,’’ says Padmavathi.

On the playground issue, the corporator has said that she had written a letter to the BBMP to identify a place for playground. ‘‘I hope the problem to be solved within a few months,’’ she said.

Last Updated on Monday, 11 October 2010 08:48
 
More Articles...


Page 239 of 414