The much delayed Cauvery Stage IV Phase II project, which will provide water to many parched outlying areas, will finally be commissioned in October first week.
Speaking to presspersons here on Monday, Urban Development Minister S. Suresh Kumar, who is in charge of Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), said that the project would be officially launched by Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar.
The project will supply 500 mld (million litres a day) additional water to over 10 lakh families residing in seven erstwhile city municipal corporation (CMC) areas of Rajarajeshwari nagar, Dasarahalli, Yelahanka, Bytarayanapura, K.R. Puram and Mahadevapura and the Town Municipal Council area of Kengeri.
Major achievement
The Rs. 1,759-crore project was envisaged keeping in mind Bangalore’s population in 2016; 85 per cent of it was funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency and the balance shared by the government and the BWSSB. While the board achieved supply of 900 mld through the previous four stages, it succeeded in pumping 500 mld from this stage alone.
On complaints about plumbers charging more to facilitate connections, Mr. Suresh Kumar said that a meeting of accredited plumbers was convened recently where plumbers were warned against overcharging. If they do, they will be blacklisted, he said.
BWSSB had issued 75,000 applications, of which 8,000 were filled and submitted. Appealing to citizens to take authorised connections, he said that by doing so BWSSB could contain unaccounted use of water, which was as much of 45 per cent.
