BELGAUM, December 5: The State government is examining the possibility of taking up Cauvery Fifth Stage scheme to ensure drinking water supply in the areas yet to be covered under piped water supply.
Minister for Public Works H.C. Mahadevappa told the Legislative Council on Thursday that a committee, headed by B.N. Thyagaraj, the former chairperson of the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), had recommended using 500 million litres per day (MLD) or 6.44 tmcft of water per year allocated by the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT).
The government had constituted the Thyagaraj Committee comprising officials from different civic agencies and departments, in addition to water experts, in 2010, to find out alternative sources to meet the growing drinking water needs of Bangalore city. The recommendation was under consideration, he said.
The committee recommended the government look at exploiting rivers, including the Yettinahole, Kakkattahole, Konganahole, Linganamakki and Arkavati to quench the thirst of the growing Bangalore population.
Rejuvenation of the Arkavati, rainwater harvesting, effective treatment of waste water, and adoption of dual piping system for layouts were some other suggestions of the committee, he observed.
A project to supply water to residential extensions in 110 villages that come under the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) had been prepared and a project report had been sent to the Union Ministry for Urban Development. The Ministry suggested adopting a few more suggestions. “Based on this, the detailed project report was being prepared, he said. Bangalore city receives 1,230 MLD, he added.
