‘No move to penalise those seeking water’

Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) chairman Gaurav Gupta has categorically stated that there was no move to collect penalty from those seeking Cauvery water connection in BBMP’s newly-added areas.

He allayed the residents’ fears that Rs3,000 being charged by BWSSB was for the delay in paying the deposit for water connections. He clarified that it was “the balance amount to be paid under Greater Bangalore Water and Sanitation Project. Under this scheme, an applicant who owns a house (30x40 sq ft) has to pay Rs8,000 towards water connection.’’

He stated that BWSSB has to garner resources to make arrangements for the supply of water for newly-added areas. “Cauvery IV Stage Phase II is being funded by JICA, state government and BWSSB, but there is no financial assistance from the government for providing infrastructure to supply water and better sanitary facilities in Bangalore. BWSSB has to raise funds on its own,’’ he said.

He appealed the prospective consumers to pay the deposit money to the BBMP as early as possible, to enable it to take up infrastructure development works at erstwhile seven city municipal councils and one town municipal council.

He revealed that as of now the BWSSB has been paying Rs300 crore to Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) per month towards electricity bill. “As soon as the supply of Cauvery water commences at the erstwhile TMCs and CMC areas, the electricity bill may go up to Rs450 crore,’’ he said.

The chairman also said the BWSSB had prepared a plan to construct 11 sewage treatment plants at various locations in Bangalore. “We have chalked out a plan to supply water to residents at various slums. We have already roped in a few non-government organisations (NGOs) to create awareness among the slum-dwellers regarding hygiene and the importance of clean water. These NGOs were asked to conduct survey at various slums in Bangalore for this purpose. The BWSSB will lay new pipelines since the existing ones at various slums in the city are not up to the mark,’’ he said.