Mar 2003 Water in many city areas not potable-Bangalore-Cities-NEWS-The Times of India

This is an old news, but what is happening now? has it become worser or better, any study or news to update?
Water in many city areas not potable-Bangalore-Cities-NEWS-The Times of India: "

BANGALORE: A study conducted by the department of mines and geology on groundwater across the state has found that drinking water in several parts of Bangalore is not potable as it contains high levels of nitrate.

Nitrate levels in several areas of Bangalore have more than 200 ppm (parts per million) in water against the permissible 50 ppm. The levels have touched as high as 650 ppm in Tumkur. Excess nitrate in water causes gastric cancer and adversely affects the central nervous system and cardiovascular system, besides causing methaemoglobinacmia (when RBC turn blue).

The startling findings have now been sent to the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board for action. "In many cases, we found that groundwater was polluted due to indiscriminate use of manure for plants and chemical fertilisers. In new areas of Bangalore, lack of drainage and septic tanks is the main problem," sources said.

A case of methaemoglobinemia was reported from Banashankari in an eight-year-old girl, confirming the study's fears of nitrate levels in water. Though the study has restricted itself to groundwater contamination, the department also studied samples of Cauvery water too. "Cauvery water is free from chemical contamination ... but has bacteria in it. But then, this could be because of dirty pipes and not necessarily due to fault at the source," sources said.

BWSSB Chairman M.N. Vidyashankar said Cauvery water supplied to Bangalore undergoes dechlorination thrice before it is released. "Chlorination takes care of bacteria. As for groundwater pollution, the Board is setting up underground drainage system for the 27 new wards in the city," he said.

According to the study, nitrate levels in groundwater in following areas are: Konapanna Agrahara (Bangalore South) - 153 ppm; K.R. Puram - 116 ppm; Doddaballapur -366; Sarjapura - 255; Bidadi - 215; Avalahalli (Bangalore South) - 130; Kanakapura - 213; Ramachandrapura (Bangalore North) - 244; Mysore road - 177; Nagavarapalya -128; Chikkabanavara (Bangalore North) - 149; Nelamangala - 128; and Hoskote - 251.

"

Domestic Water Quantity, Service, Level and Health, WHO 2003

Summary of requirement for water service level to promote health

Service level	Access measure	Needs met	Level of health concern
No access (quantity collected often below 5 l/c/d)	More than 1000m or 30 minutes total collection time	Consumption – cannot be assured Hygiene – not possible (unless practised at source)	Very high
Basic access (average quantity unlikely to exceed 20 l/c/d)	Between 100 and 1000m or 5 to 30 minutes total collection time	Consumption – should be assured Hygiene – handwashing and basic food hygiene possible; laundry/ bathing difficult to assure unless carried out at source	High
Intermediate access (average quantity about 50 l/c/d)	Water delivered through one tap on-plot (or within 100m or 5 minutes total collection time	Consumption – assured Hygiene – all basic personal and food hygiene assured; laundry and bathing should also be assured	Low
Optimal access (average quantity 100 l/c/d and above)	Water supplied through multiple taps continuously	Consumption – all needs met Hygiene – all needs should be met	Very low

Daily fluid intake reference values in litres per capita (IPCS, 1994)

	Normal conditions	High average temp. 32oC	Moderate activity
Adults	1.0-2.4, average 1.9 (including milk); 1.4 (excluding milk)	2.8-3.4	3.7
Adult male	2	-	-
Adult female	1.4	-	-
Child (10 years)	1.0	-	-

Volumes of water required for hydration

	Volumes (litres/day)
	Average conditions	Manual labour in high temperatures	Total needs in pregnancy/lactation
Female adults	2.2	4.5	4.8 (pregnancy) 5.5 (lactation)
Male adults	2.9	4.5	-
Children	l.0	4.5	-

Percentage reductions in diarrhoeal disease rates attributed to water or excreta
disposal improvements (Esrey et al., 1985)

Type of intervention	Number of studies	Percentage reduction
		Median	Range
All interventions	63	22	0-100
Improvements in water quality	9	16	0-90
Improvements in water availability	17	25	0-100
Improvements in water quality & availability	8	37	0-82
Improvements in excreta disposal	10	22	0-48

Summary of Water Resources for Bangalore from AUSAID Report, 2001

Water Source	Potential Yield * (MLD)	Distance from Bangalore (km)	Applications For Water Resource
1. Cauvery River
Stages I, II and III (existing)	540	Source Options:	Municipal supply
Stage IV Phase I (under construction)	270	99 (Shiva Anicut)	(potable quality)
Stage IV Phase II Part 1	258	126 (KRS Dam)
Stage IV Phase II Part 2	257	175 (Hemavathi)
Stage V	686	205
	Total 2011	(Netra/Hemavathi)

1. Allocation for Stage V is subject to CWDT ruling.

2. Seasonal storage capacity must be developed for BWSSB use.

3. Interim arrangements for flow regulation prior to storage are needed.

4. Most economic source development is from Shiva Anicut and KRS Dam.

5. Complete reliance on this resource exposes BWSSB in event of conflict.

6. Bulk of Cauvery resource proposed for irrigation (398 out of 465 TMC).

Water Source	Potential Yield * (MLD)	Distance from Bangalore (km)	Applications For Water Resource
2. Arkavathi River
T.G.Halli (average)	100	25	Municipal supply
Hessaraghatta	4	17	(potable quality)
	Total 104

1. Sources are strategically located close to Bangalore.
2. Declining yield is a major co ncern for T.G.Halli and Hessaraghatta. Potential
for Hessaraghatta was 36 MLD and is estimated to be 4 MLD under present
catchment conditions.
3. Catchment management measures are needed to control yield reductions.
4. Large area of tanks leads to decreased runoff and increased evaporation.
5. Water quality problems may arise due to development within catchments.

Water Source	Potential Yield * (MLD)	Distance from Bangalore (km)	Applications For Water Resource
3. Groundwater
	190	Within City limits	Municipal supply
			(potable quality)

1. No current legislative regulation on access to, or use of, groundwater.
2. Current usage exceeds sustainable yield in the BMA (falling GW levels).
3. Estimate of sustainable yield for BMA is 480 MLD (>50% to irrigation).
4. Artificial recharge could be used to improve situation.
5. High nitrate levels are a common problem (and increasing).
6. Improved monitoring (water level, quality) is essential to manage resource.

Water Source	Potential Yield * (MLD)	Distance from Bangalore (km)	Applications For Water Resource
4. Rainwater Harvesting
	20-50	Within City limits	Small scale supply
			(commercial,
			households)

1. Large seasonal variations in rainfall necessitate storages and supplementary
supply.
2. Some potential where no piped WS available.
4. Potential yield (20 -50 MLD) is a broad estimate only, subject to costs.
5. General intended use is for washing water and non-potable uses.

Water Source	Potential Yield * (MLD)	Distance from Bangalore (km)	Applications For Water Resource
5. Treated Effluent Re -use
	170 -220	Within City limits	Non-potable supply
		(from BWSSB	(industrial/non -
		STP’s)	domestic)
TOTALS	2730	-	-

1. Primary purpose is to reduce demand on freshwater sources.
2. Extent of usage wi ll depend on regulations, pricing and level of service.
3. Distribution likely to be viable within a limited radius (3 km) of STP’s.
4. For non -potable applications only.
5. Groundwater recharge (via tanks) is an option for effluent re-use.

Bangalore 100 years rainfall data Visualization

Mar 2007 - Parched B'lore dreads summer : bangalore, water supply, Cauvery, Thippagondanahalli reservoir : IBNLive.com : CNN-IBN

Parched B'lore dreads summer : bangalore, water supply, Cauvery, Thippagondanahalli reservoir : IBNLive.com : CNN-IBN: "

Bangalore is inching towards another long and thirsty summer. If the current water shortage is any indication, then Bangaloreans should start saving up on this precious resource.

The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has already cut down on water supply to various areas and it could just get worse in the coming months.

So, for Bangaloreans like Mohua Dutta there's only one thing on her mind – water or rather the lack of it.

She lives at Bangalore's Sarjapur road, the IT corridor of the city, which boasts of many high-end apartments and villas. So, one would think, having charged so much for these apartments, the builders would have got the basics right?

"

Mar 2007 The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : There is no crisis, says BWSSB

The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : There is no crisis, says BWSSB: "

The shortfall of about 70 million litres of water per day in the city does not amount to a crisis, N.C. Muniyappa, Chairman of Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), said here on Thursday.Speaking on the sidelines of the two-day workshop organised by BWSSB on the occasion of World Water Day, Mr. Muniyappa said that because of the low levels of water at Thippagondanahalli reservoir, the board was pumping only 30 million litres a day as opposed to 104 million litres that was being pumped last year.While measures were being taken to provide Cauvery water to areas previously served by the T.G. Halli, BWSSB was hastening up the augmentation project taken up three months ago to get 100 million litres per day to Bangalore city from the Cauvery. 'The project was due to be completed by June end, but we are working day and night to have it ready by first week of May,' Mr. Muniyappa said.
(snip..)

More tankers would be available on call to citizens at the six offices of the BWSSB. The numbers are: East: 22945158, West: 22945171, North: 22945139, South: 22945143, Central: 22945187 and South East: 22945196

"

Mar 2007-DNA - Mumbai - It will be years before Mumbai surmounts its water crisis - Daily News & Analysis

DNA - Mumbai - It will be years before Mumbai surmounts its water crisis - Daily News & Analysis: "

Mumbai needs 4,000 million litres of drinking water every day (MLD) to assuage the thirsty of its 1.25 cr residents. But the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) reports that it can only supply 3,300 MLD, leading to a shortfall of 700 MLD.This shortfall, many believe, will continue to get bigger if the state and the civic body doesn't take immediate steps to address the crisis. And, even residents need to do their part to use water judiciously. March 22 was World Water Day, and this year's theme mirrors the growing water needs of an emerging nation and city. BMC Standing Committee chairman Ravindra Waikar says, 'Mumbai's main problem is that since the Koyna Dam was constructed in 1960, we have not constructed any major dam or lake in the city. Though everybody is talking about the new airport, infrastructure and flyovers, no one bothers about the water problem.'

"

Mar 2007-The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : A little care can ensure enough water for all

The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : A little care can ensure enough water for all: "

With water scarcity hitting new levels each summer in the city, adopting sustainable methods of water management becomes crucial for future growth of the city.

Coincidentally, the theme for World Water Day this year is 'coping with water scarcity' and Food and Agriculture Organisation is the co-ordinating agency. One man, after two-and-a-half years of research, has come up with a sustainable water management strategy for the city, involving policies that become crucial for implementation in Greater Bangalore areas.

A.R. Shivakumar, Principal Investigator at the Karnataka State Council for Science and Technology, in his paper 'Revelation in Bangalore Water Supply — A Sustainable Water Management Strategy for Emerging Greater Bangalore', has come up with a plan of action that can mitigate the impending crisis to a large extent.

"

Mar 2007-The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Private water suppliers fleece residents in city

The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Private water suppliers fleece residents in city: "

Kanta Bagri Laxminarayan, a resident of 3rd Stage, AECS Layout in Sanjaynagar, spends nothing less than Rs. 3,000 a month on water supplied by eight to 10 tankers she needs. This whopping amount is apart from her regular Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) bill of Rs. 300.Usha Gururaj, president of Sapphire Nest Owners' Association in Thippasandra, who is entirely dependent on private tanker supply, spends Rs. 600 a month. 'There are 28 flats in our apartment complex and we buy two to three tankers every day. The supplier charges us Rs. 200 a tanker because we have been his customers for years,' she said.Similar is the case with Sapna K., a resident of Lal Bahadur Shastri Nagar near HAL in K.R. Puram. Her family has an arrangement with a friend to whose house they go once a week to stock up drinking water.

"

Mar 2007- Dead animals, slush in treated water tanks;The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Main News

The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Main News: "

Several tonnes of slush, organic pollutants like lizards, pigeons and cockroaches, besides inorganic pollutants has been found in the main supply tanks of treated water. And this is not in some remote parts of the country but in modern cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Gurgaon, Faridabad and Bangalore.

"

Mar 2007-The Hindu News Update Service

The Hindu News Update Service: "

he JDS-BJP Government in Karnataka has failed to implement the Rs 3,384 crore ADB assisted Cauvery Drinking Water supply project to augment drinking water to Bangalore City, Opposition Congress Leader in the State Assembly N Dharam Singh alleged on Friday.The Government has only spent eight per cent of the loan, he claimed at a press conference here and expressed apprehension that the funding agency might take severe objection 'over the lapse.'The project was initiated two years ago when Dharam Singh led the Congress-JDS Coalition Ministry.Singh also accused the Government of not utilising the Rs 100 crore ADB loan availed for improving infrastructure in the city.

"

Mar 2007-The Hindu : Metro Plus Bangalore : Message in a bottle

The Hindu : Metro Plus Bangalore : Message in a bottle: "

Dr. Urs concedes that the growth of Bangalore has been without adequate state supply, especially in the CMC areas where bottled water is not a culture but necessity. But he is extremely critical of government policy across India that blindly promotes the growth of the bottled water industry, which is one of the most carbon-inefficient ways of transporting water. Dr. Urs cites the case of Andhra Pradesh where a plan is being mooted to supply bottled water to villages.Isaac Arul Selva from the Campaign Against Water Privatisation Karnataka, blames the rational that if you pay for it, it must be good. He says the situation in our state is not as bad as in Tamil Nadu where according to him 'not a single glass of water is available other than in bottles or sachets.'Selva is currently protesting the plan to have '100 per cent' metering of water in Bangalore, which he says would deny sections of society that cannot afford metering piped water.Rozario points to a tradition in the country that person on his deathbed gets a last glass of water. He warns that in the future it might be necessary to keep Rs. 5 in the pocket to pay for it. 'I am uncomfortable with the whole concept. The government has really washed its hands off proving safe drinking water.'

"

Mar 2007-The Hindu : Front Page : Residents stage protest seeking water supply

The Hindu : Front Page : Residents stage protest seeking water supply: "

Nearly 1,000 residents of Gayathrinagar and surrounding areas staged a protest here on Sunday and obstructed vehicular movement on Mahakavi Kuvempu Road, demanding water supply to their houses.'We have not received water properly from the past 25 days. Earlier we used to receive water at least on alternative days,' said Anantharaju, a resident. He also said that they decided to take stage the protest because was Ugadi (Lunar New Year) and a solar eclipse were occurring together on Monday, which meant that more water would be consumed.'Most of the borewells in the area also do not work. Women have to travel long distances at night to get water from the borewells that are functioning,' said Virupaksha, another resident.BWSSB Chief Engineer Venkat Raju said that water supply had been affected because there was little water in the Thippagondanahalli Reservoir. 'We are in the process of diverting water from the Cauvery to these areas. That is why water supply was affected for a while,' he said.Water supply was restored in the affected areas by 4 p.m.

"

Mar 2007-Bangalore faces power, water outages

Bangalore faces power, water outages: "

The water supply across Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is also expected to take a hit due to the power shortage. Currently, water demand in the city stood at around 1,200 liters per day but Bangalore Water Supply and Sewage Board (BWSSB) has managed to supply only 900 MLD, primarily pumping from the Cauvery river.According to official sources, BWSSB could not avail the required power to supply adequate water to the city even after paying huge amount as electric charges. If the power shortage widens in summer, it is understood that the BWSSB might reduce the frequency of water supply from alternative days currently to once in three days, Board sources said.

Mar 2007-The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Focus on managing water, BWSSB told

The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Focus on managing water, BWSSB told: "

Instead of focussing on creating more sources for water supply, it is crucial that focus should be on managing the water, said Lakshmi Venkatachalam, Principal Secretary, Urban Development Department.This and more such suggestions were put forth on methods to conserve water at the inaugural function of the two-day workshop organised on World Water Day by the Bangalore Water Supply Sewerage Board (BWSSB).P.B. Mahishi, Chief Secretary, said water distribution should be localised and residents welfare associations could be involved in ensuring that the network reached every household in the locality.'Incentives could be provided for those who use less water and higher tariffs for those who consume more,' he said.

"

Mar 2007-The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : The quantum of water supply depends on the locality

The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : The quantum of water supply depends on the locality: "

If you do not want to go crazy over water problems, you do well to choose the locality to live in.The Bangalore Development Authority has classified the city and its surrounding areas into water zones.'The classification is based on the availability of water. So while Zone One, comprising areas in and around Mysore Road, has the easiest access to water, Zone Six (areas close to Devanahalli) has the least,' BDA Commissioner M.K. Shankarlinge Gowda told The Hindu on Monday.The classification has been made in the Master Plan 2015.

"

Feb 2007-Turbulent waters-Editorial-OPINION-The Times of India

Turbulent waters-Editorial-OPINION-The Times of India: "

The UK government imposed strict regulation on water companies, but leaks continue to plague the system and prices rise at an annual rate of 8.5 per cent.The combined profits of water companies are predicted at two billion pounds. The Daily Mail observed that every warning issued by critics of water privatisation was coming true.Developed countries are now looking at water utilities in a different light. The Canadian city of Hamilton ended 10 years of private supply due to issues of quality, price and pollution control standards.The new public provider recently announced savings of $1.2 million and has been congratulated for improvement in its service.The Netherlands passed a constitutional amendment preventing any privately-owned company from providing drinking water services to the public in 2004. Ninety-five per cent of drinking water in the world is provided without private involvement.Does India's water supply need multinationals? Whether it is water or any other essential service, it is the role of the state to manage its finances well and distribute resources in order to benefit all. To see such issues in terms of cost recovery of individual departments is to miss this basic point.

"

Jan 2007- Amenities and aesthetics: Blueprint for development-Bangalore-SUPPLEMENTS-The Times of India

Amenities and aesthetics: Blueprint for development-Bangalore-SUPPLEMENTS-The Times of India: "

A primary concern in the recent past was drinking water. The city saw shortages, especially in the summer months. 'The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) initiated the 'unaccounted for water reduction project' that entails bringing down the water lost in distribution in the city to around 15 percent from around the estimated 45 percent presently. A pilot project of this scheme is on, covering around 30,000 connections. After it is successful, we will extend it to the rest of the city and this translates into a saving of around 230 million litres of water daily (MLD) - almost as good as another water project', says S K Pattanayak, Chairman, BWSSB. While the present water supply to the city is 810 MLD, the Board has plans to increase it by 510 MLD over the next five years. 'This will be enough to meet the demand then,' he says. On the present position, Pattanayak says, 'from two hours, the water supply has been increased to four hours every second day. We will maintain this supply through the coming summer months'.

"

Jan 2007-North,west Bangalore face water shortage-Bangalore-Cities-NEWS-The Times of India

North,west Bangalore face water shortage-Bangalore-Cities-NEWS-The Times of India: "

Some inner areas of Sanjaynagar do not get water for a whole week. In the west, the irregular water supply has forced the residents to depend on water tankers. Areas of Bangalore north, east and parts of west, which are dependent on Tippagondanahalli reservoir, are facing this severe water crisis. Reason: BWSSB has reduced pumping of water from TG Halli as water level has come down drastically.BWSSB normally pumps around 130 to 140 MLD of water. Since the reservoir's catchment at Arkavathy has not received adequate water during last monsoon, it is drying up.Now, pumping is just 50 MLD, Venkataraju, BWSSB chief engineer, maintenance, said.

"

Jan 2007-The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Board posts allocated to 17 BJP legislators and 19 workers

The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Board posts allocated to 17 BJP legislators and 19 workers: "

President of the Bharatiya Janata Party State unit D.V. Sadananda Gowda, who had announced two lists of names of legislators and party workers for the posts of chairmen of boards and corporations, on Tuesday 'allocated' them to 17 legislators and 19 party workers.Former MLA B.B. Shivappa has been given the post of chairman of the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board and Pramila Nesargi, another former MLA, has been made the chairperson of the Karnataka State Women Commission.

"

Jan 2007-The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : 24-hour water supply in Mysore by June 2009

The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : 24-hour water supply in Mysore by June 2009: "

The State Cabinet on Saturday decided to implement a Rs. 194.54-crore project to modernise the drinking water supply system in Mysore under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.The project, which will be completed in about 30 months, would help Mysore get water supply 24 hours a day by June 2009.Addressing presspersons after the Cabinet meeting, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy said the project would aim at replacing the water supply network, which was established 50 years ago. This would help reduce the leakages.

"

Feb 2007 - The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : That drop is more precious than you realise

The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : That drop is more precious than you realise: "

'There is no future for Bangalore unless we reduce our dependency on water from the Cauvery. We must realise that the Cauvery has its own limitations.' This grim warning comes not from any environmentalist but from N.C. Muniyappa, Chairman of the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board.Speaking to The Hindu , Mr. Muniyappa said people in the city have 'not been pushed to corner' yet and so have not taken to water conservation seriously. 'Unlike in Chennai where the groundwater is brackish, Bangalore's groundwater is still good. So many people still depend on groundwater for their needs.'Bangalore requirement is about 1,400 million litres a day (MLD). While its one lakh-odd borewells supply about 560 MLD (40 per cent), the BWSSB supplies 910 MLD, sourced from the Cauvery and the Arkavathy.

"

Feb 2007 - The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Judiciary takes initiative on saving lakes

The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Judiciary takes initiative on saving lakes: "

The amalgamation of these local bodies with the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) and the formation of Bruhut Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has fuelled fears of environmentalists and others about the need for preserving the water bodies.The judiciary is taking interest so that all the areas, including scores of villages coming under the BBMP, not only get potable water but also take steps to protect the water bodies that come under the erstwhile jurisdiction of the local bodies of Rajarajeshwarinagar, Yelahanka, Byatarayanapura, Bommasandra, K.R. Puram, Mahadevapura, Dasarahalli, Kengeri and even areas surrounding them.The Karnataka State Legal Services Authority, which functions under the Karnataka High Court, has taken up the task of saving the water bodies and eradicating the problem of contaminated water supply around the four valleys in Bangalore, including Bellandur, Hebbal, Koramangala and Chalaghatta.The authority has been holding regular meetings with the chiefs of the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) and the Bruhut Bangalore Mahanagara Palike on ways and means to protect the water bodies around Bangalore.

"

Jan 2007-The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : It will be a long wait for new areas

The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : It will be a long wait for new areas: "

With the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) taking shape, the officials promise better roads, piped water supply and a proper underground drainage system to replace the existing mud lanes, borewell water and septic tanks in the new areas after March.Twenty new range offices will be opened, in addition to the existing 30 offices, in a phased manner across the 741 square km area of BBMP. Each of these offices will have field officials in health, sanitation, revenue and engineering.

"

Feb 2007-The Hindu : Property Plus Bangalore : Bangalore all set for a makeover?

The Hindu : Property Plus Bangalore : Bangalore all set for a makeover?: "

The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) will complete Cauvery IV stage II phase project by 2010. The project will provide another 500 million litres per day (mld) to the city.Bruhat Bangalore will require about 1,576 mld of water and there is a shortfall of about 700 mld. The agency has plans to quench the thirst of Bangaloreans by completing the Netak Balancing Reservoir project which will provide 100 mld. Recycled water from Yelahanka and Vrushabhavati plants will be supplied for non-potable use for industries. It will also complete water supply and sewerage connections in all slums by 2010 and replace corroded underground water and drainage lines.

"

Feb 2007-Illegal connections pose hurdle-Bangalore-Cities-NEWS-The Times of India

Illegal connections pose hurdle-Bangalore-Cities-NEWS-The Times of India: "

Nearly 1,000 illegal water connections in Hubli and Dharwad have become the main stumbling block in the timely commissioning of the 24x7 drinking water supply demonstration project in selected eight wards of the twin cities.The World Bank-aided project was to have been completed by September last year. The deadline was extended till December following opposition to the project from a section of the target population in Dharwad. Many of them had illegal connections.The Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development and Finance Corporation (KUIDFC) is implementing the Rs 237-crore project in select wards of Hubli-Dharwad, Belgaum and Gulbarga. It has now been rescheduled for commissioning by March-end this year.

"

Feb 2007-The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Politician as BWSSB chief opposed

The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Politician as BWSSB chief opposed: "

Inefficient water supply and sewage disposal could be the likely fallout if a political candidate takes over as chairman of the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), fear employees.The State Government has planned to appoint a politician as chairman of the board even though no such provision exists in the rules governing BWSSB functioning, according to R. Ramanna, president of BWSSB Employees Association here on Wednesday.'Political interference could hamper the functioning of the board and result in low performance. Foreign agencies might hesitate to lend us funds,' said Mr. Ramanna.

"

Jan 2007-Backstory: India's no-flow faucets | csmonitor.com

Backstory: India's no-flow faucets | csmonitor.com: "

Hyderabad's desire to become India's next great global city – the next Silicon Valley spiced by chutney and chilies – sometimes seems pathological. There is Hi-Tec City, where buildings of tinted glass double as ostentatious statements of India's global arrival. There is Genome Valley, heart of India's nascent biotechnology industry. And there is a 100-mile beltway under way, along with a new international airport with no shortage of sinuous shapes.

Yet for 46 of every 48 hours, Hyderabad cannot deliver one simple staple to its people – water. Those who have the means survive by storing water – when it comes – in rooftop tanks so their taps never run dry. Those who do not live life in 46-hour increments, rationing water and thronging taps at communal wells in lines that last two hours or more.

Now, however, this city of 6 million is undertaking an experiment that could change how it – and perhaps the rest of India – uses one of its most basic resources. It is a modest beginning: Hyderabad is offering continuously flowing water to one neighborhood. But the plan holds significance for the whole nation, as one of the world's most powerful economies struggles to meet increasing water demands amid chronic fraud, waste, and neglect.

"

Feb 2007-The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : BWSSB gearing up for summer

The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : BWSSB gearing up for summer: "

Water woes could worsen in the city this summer. The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) expects 'a severe crisis' as early as March and is planning to augment supply by regenerating dysfunctional borewells in the vicinity of Hessarghatta Lake.Sources in the board told The Hindu on Sunday that more than 50 borewells drilled in the 1980s in the vicinity of the lake had become dysfunctional following depletion of the groundwater table.The board had stopped using the Hessarghatta reservoir some years ago, as it did not have a drinking water treatment plant there. The process of drawing raw water to the city and then treating it had proved too costly for the board.

"