One of the major drawbacks of Kalaburagi city, one of the fastest growing tier II cities in the State is the lack of fool-proof Under Ground Drainage (UGD) system.
The city, which is in line to get a favourable nod from the Union government towards the smart city project, has about 25 per cent of its area under the UGD system. The city does not have a modern Sewage Treatment Plant (STP). The oxidisation plant established in 1990 can treat 27 million litres per day (MLD) of sewage, while the city generates around 60 MLD of sewage.
It was only recently that the State government approved a modern 40 MLD STP, which is being built on the outskirts by a Pune-based company. Another STP of 25 MLD at Kapnur on the outskirts of the city is proposed.
Executive Engineer of the Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board Ashok Madyal told The Hindu here recently that a proposal of Rs. 600 crore has been submitted to the government for bringing the entire city under the UGD network. He said that once the project was implemented, a 1,200 km-long UGD network would be established in the city and the entire sewage generated in the city would be transported to the three STPs for scientific treatment before it is let into the streams and river or recycled for irrigation.
Approval
Municipal Administration and Minority Affairs Minister Qamarul Islam said recently that the State Cabinet had approved the Rs. 141.30-crore third phase of UGD construction in Kalaburagi city, adding 159.83 km of UGD pipeline, installing a 25 MLD STP at Kapnu, among others.
The Minister claimed that 40 per cent of the third stage had been completed with funds from the Kalaburagi City Corporation. So far Rs. 42 crore has been spent on the project. While Rs. 40.65 crore would be provided by the State, Rs. 30 crore would be provided by the Hyderabad Karnataka Region Development Board, raising loans amounting to Rs. 49.45 crore from financial institutions and Rs. 21.20 crore contribution from the local bodies.
However, Mr. Qamarul did not clarify how the authorities could take up construction of the third stage without approval of the government and the Finance Department.
The State Cabinet has approved the third phase of UGD in Kalaburagi city at Rs. 141.30 crore
