The eagerly-awaited Cauvery IV stage phase II, which is expected to deliver 500 million litres of water daily to the city, is much behind schedule.
The eagerly-awaited Cauvery IV stage phase II, which is expected to deliver 500 million litres of water daily to the city, is much behind schedule. The December deadline would be hard to achieve, said minister Suresh Kumar after inspecting work sites.
“Pull up your socks, double the work force,” he told contractors and engineers on Friday.
“After Ugadi, twice the number of skilled hands should be put to work in two shifts,” he said. About 2,000 people are working on the project. Contractors would be expected to hand over the finished pipelines by September. The board is aiming at trials by January.
Progress would be reviewed every 15 days, an engineer said.
The city would be much better off next summer compared to the current one as it would be receiving an additional 500 mld, the minister said.
To deal with the present crisis, a team of 26 special officers has been constituted. They would be identifying issues and solutions and reporting to the minister and the chairman of BWSSB every day between 6 am and 8.30 am. Power cuts continue to hit water supply.
The minister had extracted an assurance of continuous supply from KPTCL recently. But five days after that promise was made, pumping stations did not receive power from Somanahalli station for 25 to 40 minutes on Thursday night leading to water shortage in some areas on Friday.
Reducing leakage is a top priority. However, that remains a pipe dream as work on that is yet to begin in earnest. The expert committee is also mulling over ways to enhance supply to the city. Water bodies at Tippagondanahalli and Hesarghatta would be tapped.
At least 84 private tankers would be pressed into service. That they are on BWSSB work will be prominently displayed on the tankers so people would be aware of the same and the tanker owners would not misuse the opportunity. This would be in addition to 42 tankers owned by the board which would be put to work round the clock.
Over 60% of the water that is drawn through borewells is contaminated. However, it is a necessary evil, the minister said, adding the board is unable to supply water through pipes.
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