"We have asked for regular Cauvery water supply to all areas and the
officials have promised to start supply by August-end" says resident of
HSR Layout
The truant monsoon has several areas in the newly added zones under
Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike’s (BBMP’s) jurisdiction reeling under
water shortage. To redress the problems pertaining to water scarcity
and underground drainage in their areas, councillors from Bommanahalli
and Dasarahalli zones met officials of the Bangalore Water Supply and
Sewerage Board (BWSSB) here on Wednesday.
Range of issues
Lack of Cauvery water supply, poor borewell maintenance, dysfunctional
borewells, water leakage and improper restoration of roads dug up to lay
underground drainage lines were the issues that figured in the meeting.
BWSSB Chairperson Gaurav Gupta, Engineer-in-Chief T. Venkataraju heard the grievances.
Demanding that BWSSB’s free tanker water supply to their areas be
continued till the city received adequate rain, most councillors wanted
the board to ensure Cauvery water supply to their areas.
Water leakage
Explaining his ward’s problems, B.S. Manjunatha Reddy (Bommmanahalli
ward) pointed out that pipelines along several stretches in his area had
been damaged after the roads were dug up to lay new underground
drainage lines. “The restoration has not been done properly and this has
resulted in water leakage. That apart, of the 80 borewells, only 15 are
functional. The borewell maintenance contractors say that they cannot
take up work as BWSSB has not cleared their bills,” Mr. Reddy told The Hindu after the meeting.
Latha Narasimhamurthy (HSR Layout) said that the situation was same in
her ward too. “Of the 48 borewells, only 15 are functional. We have
asked for regular Cauvery water supply to all areas and the officials
have promised to start supply by August-end,” she said.
Bommanahalli MLA Satish Reddy, Mayor D. Venkatesh Murthy and former
Mayor Sharadamma were present. The Mayor advised the councillors to
utilise the opportunity properly and get their problems redressed.
Contaminated water
Councillors representing Dasarahalli Zone pointed out that the borewell
water in most of the wards was contaminated. This was affecting the
health of several residents, they said and demanded Cauvery water
instead.
“We have assured them of supply from August-end when the Cauvery IV
Stage II Phase will be commissioned. This will enable supply of an
additional 500 million litres of water per day (mld) to the city,” Mr.
Venkataraju said.
He admitted that the 900 mld of the available Cauvery water was not enough to meet the city’s requirements.
