Date:01/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/01/stories/2008070151920500.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Avoid drawing borewell water, ULBs told

Special Correspondent

Rapid depletion of water-table worries Government
Gujarat model to be adopted for water supply

BANGALORE: To mitigate the drinking water problem in urban local bodies (ULBs), the State Government on Monday decided to supply water from river basins and reservoirs to ULBs.

Minister for Urban Development (except Bangalore) Suresh Kumar on Monday reviewed the drinking water problem in 215 ULBs such as city corporations, city municipal councils, town municipal councils and town panchayats.

In the wake of depleting water table, a decision has been taken to stop supplying drinking water from borewells. All ULBs would get drinking water from surface water sources such as rivers, reservoirs and tanks. Water from river basins such as Gadavri, Krishna and Cauvery would be supplied to ULBs, Mr. Kumar told presspersons.

Many borewells had become defunct and drilling of borewells was a major cause for the depletion of groundwater in the State. The State would adopt a Gujarat model to tackle drinking water problem in urban areas. Surface water was the major source for drinking water in ULBs in Gujarat, he said.

Noting that the rainwater harvesting was one of the methods used for conservation of water, the Minister said the rainwater harvesting system would be mandatory for all buildings in ULBs and the department would introduce necessary legislation for implementing the programme. He said a total sanitation campaign would be launched by roping in private companies in the construction of toilets. The department would prepare a plan on the requirement of funds for construction of toilets in ULBs, he said.

Vacancies

For solid waste management, a decision had been taken to fill 50 environmental engineers’ vacancies in ULBs.

Services of 150 information technology engineers would be regularised soon, he said.

Asked about loopholes in town planning, the Minister said still 101 ULBs did not have town planning wings. Ten town planning wings would be opened in Indi, Chikkodi, Savanur, Kumta, Bhatkal, Sedam, Basavakalyan, Lingsugur, Hospet and Bailhongal.

An additional director’s office of Town Planning would be established in Dharwad, he said.