The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : BWSSB to take over city lakes

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Thursday, Jul 24, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

BWSSB to take over city lakes

Staff Reporter

Suitable amendment to BWSSB Act will enable it to reuse water

Board to closely study the existing lease agreements
Plans afoot to use water from 114 lakes

Bangalore: The State Government is planning a suitable amendment to the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) Act to legally empower the board to take over all lakes in and around the city, Minister for BWSSB, Excise, IT-BT and Information Katta Subramanya Naidu said here on Wednesday.

He was inspecting the water treatment plant and pumping station at Thorekadanahalli in Malavalli taluk of Mandya district.

Mr. Naidu told presspersons that the amendment would enable the board have the right to recycle and reuse water from close to 114 lakes in Bangalore Urban and Rural areas to meet the growing demand for potable water.

He said he would soon convene a meeting of top officials from the Revenue Department, Bangalore Development Authority, Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), and the Lake Development Authority to discuss the matter and draft the amendment.

He said the Government was aware that the proposal to recycle lake water could have some serious implications on its own policy of lake privatisation.

“We are against privatisation of lakes as activities such as speed boating and floating restaurants in the lakes can actually pollute water. This can complicate the process of treating and recycling it for use. We will do all that is required to take back the lakes from the private firms,” he said.

BWSSB Chairman Lata Krishna Rao would study the tender conditions of lake privatisation to find out if there was any clause specifying that the Government could withdraw the licences of private firms, the Minister said.

Dual pipelines

“The idea is to set up dual pipelines and supply treated lake water for purposes other than drinking to all areas in the city. The same water will be supplied to industries and other bulk users. The existing water being drawn through all the stages of Cauvery Water Supply Scheme will suffice to meet the drinking water needs of Bangaloreans”, he said.

He added that the Board had directed the BDA and builders to put up dual pipelines in all new layouts and high-rise apartments.

Earlier, speaking at a function organised by the Bangalore City District Working Journalists’ Union to mark Patrika Day, the Minister said the Government had sanctioned Rs. 100 crore to the BWSSB in the budget to augment its services.

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