Fighting for water

With 80,000 illegal connections, BWSSB prepares to go to the courts

February 02, 2016 07:53 am | Updated 07:53 am IST - Bengaluru:

While many parts of the city face a scarcity of water, close to half the water supplied to the city is unaccounted for. Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

While many parts of the city face a scarcity of water, close to half the water supplied to the city is unaccounted for. Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

Extending lines from and to creaky, often leaky water supply or sanitary lines in the city, nearly 80,000 households have been found to have drawn unauthorised connections from the intricate pipeline network of Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB). While notices have been sent to regularise the illegal connections, the Board is also preparing to file non-cognisable cases against 33 persons for non-compliance.

The figure comes after a survey by its engineers put the number of illegal connections at more than 2 lakh. Most are in slums and lower income colonies.

“We have asked engineers to check trade licences in their areas. There have been cases where people take residential water connection and use it for commercial purposes. The report is expected in 15 days,” said T.M. Vijaybhaskar, Chairman, BWSSB.

If citizens fail to regularise illegal connections, cases under the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Act, 1964 will be filed. BWSSB’s law officer Jayaram Hegde says the Board is in the process of filing 33 such cases, which will attract a fine (10 per cent of the ‘stolen’ water or illegal sewage use) and even imprisonment.

Krishnappa S., Engineer-In-Chief, BWSSB, believes these steps are yielding results. “Eight months ago, our revenue used to be Rs. 75 crore per month. Now, it is around Rs. 95 crore. This shows that at least some illegal connections have been regularised,” he said.

Water losses

With over 46 per cent of the city’s water supply not accounted for, the BWSSB is taking steps to contain the losses.

The Unaccounted Flow of Water (UFW) project, which currently covers three divisions, is expected to bring down the loss to around 16 per cent in these areas. “We need Rs. 750 crore to extend this project to three more division and have sent a proposal to Japan Investment Cooperation Agency (JICA),” said Mr. Vijaybhaskar.

Water loss summit

Beating 28 contenders from all parts of the globe, Bengaluru became the first Asian city to host the International Water Loss Summit. Over 100 speakers and 600 delegates from over 45 countries are expected to participate in the eight edition of the event. It includes exhibition where 40 companies — international and domestic — will showcase valves and cutting edge monitoring technology to cut loss during distribution, leakage and by pilferage.

Total BWSSB connections: 8.46 lakh

Water supply: 1,325 MLD*

Shortfall: 200 MLD*

Estimated illegal connections: 2 lakh

Connection traced so far: 80,000

Cases to be filed: 33

Increase in revenue: Rs. 23 crore per month

* million litres per day

Water loss

Overall loss: 46 per cent or 600 MLD

Maximum loss: over 62 per cent

Areas: Gandhinagar, Chikpete, Cottonpete

Targeted loss: 30 per cent

Unaccounted flow of water project

Implemented in three divisions

Cost: Rs. 654.24 crore,

Losses reduced to 20 per cent

Aim: 16 per cent

Expected completion: mid-2016

Will be extended to three more divisions

Rs. 750 crore loan sought from Japan Investment Cooperation Agency

Losses are high due to old pipes and illegal connections. Action is being taken against water theft, but replacing old pipes will take time

— K.J. George, Bengaluru Development Minister

Apart from our Unaccounted Flow of Water (UFW), with no additional investment and by tightening our inspection of connections, we can bring down losses to 30 per cent

T.M. Vijaybhaskar, Chairman, BWSSB

Apart from saving water, BWSSB will also prevent nearly Rs. 200 crore being spent on electricity to pump this unaccounted-for water

— V. Balasubramanian, ex-bureaucrat who prepared a note on water crisis in the city

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