Drinking water is a serious challenge in the 110 villages and other people have been ready for a lot too lengthy for a similar, says and MLA.
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Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, who additionally holds cost of the town, and MLAs of outer zones, have been eager that Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) offers piped drinking water to 110 villages newly added to the town in 2007, ahead of Assembly elections. However, with over 30% of the works of Cauvery Fifth Stage, which can deliver 775 Million Litres per Day (MLD) water from Cauvery to the town, nonetheless pending, that may not be the case. Presently, BWSSB is engaged on a mid-May deadline to full the works, when Assembly polls would have simply concluded.
These villages are unfold out in Mahadevapura, Byatarayanapura, Dasarahalli, RR Nagar and Bommanahalli constituencies, the place drinking water woes proceed to be one of the problems mobilising residents.
“It would have helped us in our campaign if water had reached households before elections. As they mostly rely on tanker water another summer, expected to be scorching this year, telling them they will soon get water is not as effective as getting water. Drinking water is a major issue in the 110 villages and people have been waiting for far too long for the same,” mentioned an MLA, who did not want to be named.
N. Jayaram, Chairman, BWSSB, mentioned although the Board had earlier aimed to begin offering drinking water to 110 villages by March, works on the principle mega line to deliver uncooked water to the town from Cauvery river was nonetheless pending. “Nearly 70% of the work is now complete. We need another two months’ time to finish the remaining work,” he mentioned, including preserving a buffer of two weeks, works will principally be accomplished by mid-May.
“There were encroachments and development along the proposed alignment on Kanakapura Road, forcing us to change the alignment. The pandemic also hit us hard. Apart from the lockdowns and migrant labour crisis, we were also hit by a shortage of industrial oxygen during the second wave of the pandemic, delaying works,” Mr. Jayaram mentioned.
Political class not doubtless to reap its advantages
As per the settlement between BWSSB and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which has given a mortgage for the venture, the deadline for completion of works is August 2023. However, with an goal to full the venture simply ahead of Assembly polls, the venture was placed on a fast-track in May 2021. Though BWSSB now says works can be accomplished by mid-May, ahead of the unique deadline, it can not doubtless assist the political class to reap its advantages in the upcoming polls.
Mr. Jayaram mentioned whereas work on the mega line to draw water remains to be underway, works on the lateral traces for distribution of water and pumping stations had nearly been accomplished. “In 55 villages, where the distribution network has been completely laid, we are providing drinking water twice a week to those houses who have taken our connection for some time now. While we are yet to get 775 MLD water from Cauvery Fifth Stage, we have allotted some water in the available schemes to these villages,” he mentioned.
While BWSSB estimates that Cauvery Fifth Stage will serve over 2.5 lakh households, solely practically 35,000 households have availed a connection from the Board, sources mentioned.
