Karnataka will set aside ₹10,000 crore a year for providing potable water in all villages in the next three years, Minister for Bangalore Development KJ George told a water conference organised by the CII on Thursday.

He pointed out that with a population of over 11 million, Bengaluru is the third most populous city in the country and the 18th most populous city in the world.

City under stress

“The civic infrastructures of the city, including the water channels, are already stressed. The government is committed to addressing the infrastructural needs of the city, reducing water contamination and encouraging initiatives that promote water reuse and recycle. The goal is to bring down the water loss level to at least 30 per cent from the current level of 36 per cent,” he added.

TM Vijay Bhaskar, Additional Chief Secretary, Urban Development Department & Chairman, BWSSB, said that nearly 80 per cent of residential buildings in Bengaluru have set up rainwater harvesting after it was made mandatory.

“For catchment area water harvesting, we have engaged a Singapore agency in north Bengaluru,” Vijay Bhaskar said. A ₹660-crore project is under way in south Bengaluru for replacement of old PVC pipes, faulty house service connection and defective meters, he said.

In order to bring in accountability, bulk water meters will be installed.

Vijay Bhaskar added that a dedicated citizen phone line (1916) will be set up for the public to report incidents of water leakages in the city.

About 1,650 million litres of water is consumed in Bengaluru daily, of which around 1,300 million litres is discharged as sewage. Of this, about 600 million litres are being recycled.

Related Topics
comment COMMENT NOW