Karnataka - Hubli-Dharwad   

Work on water supply network to end in 2010

HUBLI: The Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC), which has been sanctioned Rs. 152 crore for improving drinking water supply in the twin cities, has plans to complete the project work by June 2010.

The grant is mainly for improving water supply and upgrading the distribution network, which is more than four decades old.

The Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board (KUWSDB), which looks after water supply, pumps 113.80 MLD (million gallons per day) from the Neerasagar (40 MLD) and Malaprabha Reservoir (73.80 MLD).

However, compared to the demand, the pumping capacity is less. Moreover, the board is facing a problem of leakage, which is approximately 50 per cent, according to official sources.

Though the project was estimated at Rs. 176 crore initially, the delay in releasing funds led to a cost escalation of Rs. 20 crore. During 2007-08, Rs. 50 crore was sanctioned by the State Government and the board officials chalked out an action plan for the amount.

The work taken up under this grant is likely to be completed by June next. In the budget for 2008-09, Rs. 136 crore was earmarked to the corporation. Subsequently, the State Cabinet enhanced it to Rs. 152 crore.

Under the Rs. 152-crore plan, the quantity of water pumped from the two sources will be increased. In addition to the existing capacity of 113.80 MLD, it has been planned to pump 68 MLD more, considering the increasing demand for water in the twin cities and some villages. The work includes installation of two additional deep well turbine pumpsets at the jackwell near the Malaprabha Reservoir in Savadatti, a 30-km pipeline from Savadatti jackwell to the water treatment plant at Amminabhavi, and an additional water treatment plant of 68 MLD at Amminabavi.

Considering the frequent problems encountered by the board because of power shutdown, dedicated power stations and supply lines have been planned. It has been planned to set up 110/33 kV substations at Savadati and Amminabavi, a 4-km 11 kV power supply line at Savadatti, a 10-km 110 kV power supply line from the 220 kV receiving station at Narendra to Amminabavi.

Under the plan to improve the distribution network, old pipelines will be changed and overhead tanks will be built.

The corporation has received Rs. 9.90 crore under the Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns (UIDSSMT) of the Union Government and work is under way.

Corporation Commissioner Ajay Nagabhushan told The Hindu that the work taken up under UIDSSMT was scheduled to be completed by October next. The work under the Rs. 152-crore grant would be completed by June 2010.

“Once the work is over, there will be regular drinking water supply in the twin cities,” he said.

Meanwhile, the State Government has approved a proposal to extend the 24x7 water supply scheme, which has been implemented in eight wards, to other wards in the twin cities. The officials are preparing a detailed project report.

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