If everything goes as per plans, the ambitious proposal to have round-the-clock water supply in all the 67 wards of Hubballi-Dharwad is likely to become a reality by 2021. Only eight wards in the twin cities now have 24x7 water supply.
Karnataka Urban Water Supply Modernisation Project (KUWSMP) has chalked out an action plan spanning over two-and-a-half decades, which includes covering new localities, and officials are of the opinion that the work might get completed by 2021.
Speaking at a workshop on scaling up the 24x7 water supply in the twin cities, Executive Engineer of the project implementation unit of KUWSMP, M.K. Managond, said that Rs. 1,146 crore would be spent for extending round-the-clock water supply to 41 wards and the work would be taken up in two phases with the help of the World Bank and the State government. Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board was implementing works in the remaining 18 wards.
According to the action plan, the first phase will be taken up between 2016 and 2028 by spending Rs. 763 crore. The period includes the maintenance of the system by the operator after commissioning it. A sum of Rs. 383 crore will be spent in the second phase between 2028 and 2041, mainly for taking the facility to newer localities.
Mr. Managond said that a consortium comprising Ranhill Utilities of Malaysia, Z and A.P. Antonaropoulos and Associates SA of Greece and IL and FS Water Limited India had been issued the Letter of Award to design, upgrade and bring efficiency in operation and maintenance of the supply system. And the initial topographical survey and customer survey work had already begun, he said.
Mr. Managond said that once completed, the round-the-clock water supply would facilitate a saving of 35 million litres of water every day.
HDMC commissioner C.M. Noor Mansur said that after the successful implementation of the 24x7 water supply project in the eight demo zones of the twin cities, KUWSDB had initiated works in 18 wards and now KUWSMP was implementing works in 41 wards.
The municipal commissioner expressed confidence the work would be completed well in advance and 90 per cent work would be completed by the year 2019-20.
Mayor Manjula Akkur, senior vice-president of IL and FS Water Limited, India, Raghavendra Kamat, were present.
Only eight wards in the twin cities now have 24x7 water supply
The work will be taken up in two phases with the help of the World Bank and the State government
The first phase will be taken up between 2016 and 2028 by spending Rs. 763 crore
A sum of Rs. 383 crore will be spent in the second phase between 2028 and 2041
