BWSSB may be sliced into four-Bangalore-Cities-The Times of India

BWSSB may be sliced into four-Bangalore-Cities-The Times of India

BWSSB might be split into four divisions if the government feels doing so will help in serving citizens better. Once the board is
decentralized, it will have four zones — north, south, east and west, each headed by a chief engineer.

“Each division will cater to the needs of seven of Bangalore’s 28 assembly constituencies,” BWSSB minister Katta Subramanya Naidu said on Friday. “The divisions will have separate wings for managing storm water drains and sewage treatment plants.”

He dismissing reports of privatization of water supply. “BWSSB will recover Rs 750 crore from illegal connections,” he added. According to reports prepared by the board, BWSSB is losing Rs 750 crore a year due to lakhs of unauthorized water connections. “We’ll set up a dedicated wing to detect illegal connections,” he said.

Reports stated that of 850 million litres per day (MLD) supplied by BWSSB, only 450 MLD are accounted for. Public taps, gardens and fountains use 150 MLD, another 150 is lost due to leakages and the remaining 100 MLD is drawn through illegal connections.

The board has also drawn a three-pronged action plan: rainwater harvesting, rejuvenation of tanks and reuse of water from storm water drains. The plan was approved after Naidu met BBMP officials and experts from Indian Institute of Science (IISc).