The State government is contemplating bringing in a legislation making installation of sewage treatment plant (STP) mandatory in new apartment buildings.
Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara, who is also Bengaluru Development Minister, said with severe shortage of water in urban areas, it was imperative to conserve, protect and rejuvenate lakes and water bodies.
He was speaking after inaugurating Suvarna Bhavan of the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) on Friday.
According to a communiqué, Mr. Parameshwara said the water treated by the STP could be recycled for non-drinking purposes. He opined that by making STP mandatory in apartments, water scarcity could be tackled to an extent.
Bengaluru, a rapidly growing city, was a thirsty one and largely dependant on Cauvery river for water. Several measures are being taken to augment drinking water supply to meet the increasing demand. The Cauvery 5th Stage drinking water project is being implemented at a cost ₹5,500 crore while Thippagondanahalli reservoir is being revived at a cost of ₹340 crore. That apart, work is in progress to bring 2.5 tmcft of water to the city under the Yettinahole project.
He also said the detailed project report to supply water from Linganamakki dam was being prepared. It had been proposed to utilise the water flowing to the sea after power generation. The water available is estimated to be around 10 tmcft, which can be diverted to meet Bengaluru’s drinking water needs.
The communiqué added that Mr. Parameshwara reiterated the government's commitment to meet the city's water requirement by bringing water from various sources. The government is also committed to spend ₹50,000 crore for the city's development over the next five years.
