Power cuts could choke water supply too | | | Indian Express

Power cuts could choke water supply too | | | Indian Express

Power cuts could choke water supply too


Express News Service First Published : 20 Feb 2010 06:48:02 AM ISTLast Updated : 20 Feb 2010 08:37:36 AM IST
BANGALORE: The water supply to the city might be affected this summer not only because there is very less water in Thippagondana Halli Reservoir but also due to irregular power supply and power cuts.
If the frequency of power supply goes below 50 cycles per second, the pumping capacity of the motors decrease and it reduces the water supply to the city. Every day around 810 MLD of Cauvery water is pumped to the city through Torekadanahalli, Harohalli and Tataguni pumping stations and around 57 pumps of different capacities pump water to the city round the clock.
Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Ltd (KPTCL) draws power from the Central Grid at Somanahalli on Kanakpura Road and supplies the same through a separate line to these pumping stations.
The water is diverted to 48 ground level reservoirs (GLRs) after it reaches the city and is pumped through 58 pumps to the consumers from there. The functioning of these pumps is also frequently interrupted due to power cuts. Bangalore Water Supply and Sewage Board (BWSSB) also supplies water to the newly-added areas of the city through over 7,000 borewells.
A BWSSB official said, "There will be nearly 10 per cent less water supply in the city due to power fluctuations and that is a setback for us as the demand for water will be high during summer.
Those who buy water from other sources should buy it from the suppliers who are certified by the government laboratories or accredited laboratories and supply in EPI-coated tankers.’’ BESCOM Managing Director Tushar Girinath said, "BWSSB has given us the list of their installations. We will ensure continuous power supply to these installations wherever they are connected to a separate feeder. It is practically impossible to assure uninteruppted power supply to the borewells as there is acute shortage of power in the state".
A KPTCL official said, "We draw power from the central grid, which is common for all the southern states. We have been supplying 220 KV power to the BWSSB and we will continue to do that as long as we get it from the grid.’’ m madhusudhan@expressbuzz.com