Karnataka to spend Rs 1,200 cr on pipelines

Bangalore, Oct 13: The Karnataka Government would spend over Rs 1,200 crore for taking up remodelling work of both the pipelines in the Drinking Water and Sanitation Network in the city, Minister for BWSSB, IT and Information Katta Subramanya Naidu said here today.

Speaking to mediapersons, Mr Naidu said the ambitious remodelling project would be taken up under the JNNURM and envisaged to be completed in two years.

Before taking up the work, a survey would be conducted by a reputed agency. He had instructed the Bangalore Water Supply and Swerage Board (BWSSB) to submit a report to the government in a month's time.

The remodelling work includes replacing the existing three inch pipes with six inch ones in both drinking water and sanitation network in all the 147 wards in the IT city.

The government will order an inquiry into the functioning of the BWSSB in the last five years during which, he alleged, largescale misappropriation of funds was noticed in taking up several works.

''The filtration work taken up at Thippagondanahalli four years back remained defunct now after spending over Rs four crore due to the substandard work,'' he claimed.

Referring to largescale encroachment of lakes and tanks in and around Bangalore City, the Minister said a detailed survey will be conducted.

''The government is also mulling to bring in a legislation to prevent encroachment and taking back lake lands acquired illegally by land grabbers,'' he said.

The legislation was planned to be brought in the next session of the Assembly. The government would announce a separate policy for lakes to protect and conserve them.

Stressing the need for rainwater harvesting, the Minister said the government planned to introduce a legislation making it mandatory to have rain-harvesting system in all the buildings in Bangalore City.

''I would also discuss the issue with the Chief Minister to enlarge the purview of the proposed Bill for rainwater harvesting to all the cities and towns in the State,'' he said.

UNI