Cauvery 5th Stage: Will Bengaluru’s Water Woes End?
Seventeen years ago, 110 villages were incorporated into the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), with residents hopeful for Cauvery water supply. However, those hopes were dashed as they relied on tankers instead. The imminent commissioning of Cauvery’s 5th Stage, which could bring the city’s water supply to over 2,200 MLD from the current 1,450 MLD, aims to add 3 lakh connections to the existing 1.06 million.
Despite its potential, only 55,000 out of 3.5 lakh households in these villages have applied for a connection due to delays since the project’s 2018 inception, funded by a ₹5,500 crore JICA loan. The well-entrenched tanker system further deters residents from switching.
Nagesh Aras, a Bellandur resident, criticizes the inconsistent and manual Cauvery water supply. Many prefer tankers as a reliable backup, reinforced by loyalty discounts for regular customers. High connection costs and issues like low pressure further discourage applications. The project’s viability also depends on densified distribution, hindered by unregulated expansion and numerous illegal structures lacking occupancy certificates.
Additionally, compulsory sanitation charges for apartments with independent sewage treatment plants are deemed unfair. Trust issues due to past delays in connection also persist. For the ‘Cauvery at your doorstep’ campaign to succeed, the BWSSB must address these concerns convincingly.
Published – October 01, 2024 09:00 am IST
Original Story https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/cauvery-in-the-pipeline-but-110-villages-on-bengalurus-outskirts-have-connection-problems/article68701995.ece
Category : Bengaluru
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