KUWSDB to take up drinking water supply in Chitradurga

‘Elected representatives will not be allowed to interfere’

Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board Chairman G.C. Chandrashekhar has said that the board is ready to take up the responsibility of supplying drinking water to Chitradurga city on a condition that no elected representative will interfere in the functioning of the board.

Speaking at a meeting of district-level officers and elected representatives, held at the Deputy Commissioner’s office here on Saturday, he said that it has come to notice of the board that people in Chitradurga are not getting sufficient quantity of water, owing to loopholes in the distribution system. First, the board will conduct a detailed survey of the entire distribution system to find loopholes and then take up the responsibility of supply.

The board has already taken up responsibility of supplying water to 12 cities by setting up a separate department to receive complaints on distribution of water. If the problem is minor, it would be sorted out in one day and if it is major, the officers will take maximum two days to solve it. “If the authorities concerned fail to solve the problem in two days, consumers can contact the higher authorities for immediate rectification of the problem,” he said.

The board will take immediate action if they fail to solve the problem even after having necessary infrastructure and manpower.

In Chitradurga, the board will complete the survey in a fortnight to study the quantity of water supplied to city and leakages and immediate steps would be taken to solve them. Under any circumstances, the elected representatives in the city will not be allowed to interfere in functioning of the board and steps would be taken to increase the revenue by regularly collecting bills, he said.

Underground drainage

Mr. Chandrashekhar said that the underground drainage work in Chitradurga has been delayed owing to technical reasons and the same would be completed by December this year. The board has received many complaints regarding delay in completing the work in some areas owing to land acquisition problem. “At certain areas, the pipeline has to be land in private land, so the work has been delayed,” he said.

City Municipal Council president Kantraj said that majority of roads in the city have been damaged owing to underground drainage work and the State government should be asked to release necessary funds for development of roads.