The Hindu        18.03.2016  

MUDA infuses new hope into water project

The Mysore Urban Development Authority will acquire land for the
drinking water project at Hale Undawadi, about 2 km from KRS. The
project is expected to add 300 MLD of water to Mysuru and nearby
villages.— File photo: M.A. Sriram

Mysuru city’s drinking water availability is expected to
increase and more residential localities may get Cauvery water as the
Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) will acquire land for a
proposed drinking water project at Hale Undawadi, about 2 km from KRS
reservoir.

The launch of the project had been delayed over the land issue.

The
Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board (KUWSDB) had prepared
the Rs. 320-crore drinking water project, which is expected to add 300
million litres per day (MLD) of water to the city and nearby villages.
The project was proposed under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban
Renewal Mission.

MUDA Commissioner M. Mahesh told
The Hindu
that the crucial board meeting on Tuesday had decided to acquire 100
acres of land for the project. The land had been earmarked in the
Mysore-Nanjangud Local Area Development Plan (comprehensive development
plan) by the MUDA. However, it was acquired for industrial development
by KIDADB.

Arguing that drinking water should get top
priority, the MUDA board meeting resolved to urge the KIDADB to give
the land to MUDA, which will pay its cost, he said.

Mr.
Mahesh said MUDA had developed new layouts and proposed many layouts to
meet the demand for site aspirants. Even many MUDA-approved layouts had
been formed on the outskirts, increasing the demand for potable water.
Therefore, the MUDA took the step of acquiring the land to get the
project cleared.

The pipeline from Hale Undawadi to
the city will also provide water to about 92 villages en route. The
project had been proposed at a site where water would be available round
the year. Construction of a jackwell at Hale Undawadi and a water
treatment plant at Beechanakuppe, about 4 km away from KRS backwaters,
had been proposed under the project.