Deccan Herald - Basic amenities missing: "Did you know that the erstwhile Bommanahalli City Municipal Council (CMC), a cluster of villages located in between Sarjapur Road and Kanakpura Road, had won the best CMC Award in Karnataka in 1996-97 for its best public service?
But this `fame’ ceased to continue much before the CMC along with 33 villages were subsumed into the erstwhile Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) limits to form a new zone called Bommanahalli. Mostly occupied by major industries and IT companies, this zone is close to Narayana Hrudayalaya, one of the well-known heart hospitals in the City and is home to a major chunk of the Electronics City.
In fact, the Bommanahalli CMC alone catalysed the need for merger of the CMCs into BMP limits, especially after 2005’s deluge that exposed the pathetic condition of roads, drains and water supply.
Residents lament that the merger has not made any difference in terms of better amenities. While land prices have drastically gone up in the last few years, it is a literal struggle by residents for basic amenities.
Drinking water is a scarce commodity in most areas of the zone, especially in Hongasandra, Chikkanahalli, Billekahlli, Garvebhavipalya, Vajpayeenagar and Shanthi Layout. The authorities supply water once in four days and this sometimes stretches even to once a week.
According to S Lakshman Kumar and Lingaraju of the Bommanahalli Nagarika Hitarakshana Vedike, the erstwhile Bommanahalli City Municipal Council (CMC) used to provide water to the residents through borewells it had dug. “But indiscriminate drilling of borewells by private water suppliers reduced the availability in the CMC's borewells. Many private water suppliers have drilled borewells up to 1,000 feet while most CMC borewells are about 300 to 500 feet deep,” he said.
That apart, the residents are also deprived of proper sanitation. Unplanned and haphazard growth and unauthorised constructions have resulted in encroachment and clogging of the ‘rajakaluves’ (the main canals). This causes a deluge in the area even after a drizzle and people have been put to great hardship.
Several areas, especially Puttenahalli, HSR and Pai Layouts and most roads in the area are the worst affected every monsoon. The entire Hosur Road was immersed in water disconnecting the IT belt from the City last year.
This had forced the BBMP authorities to take up a major encroachment removal drive in Puttenahalli. Portions of several houses that had encroached upon the drains were removed amidst stiff opposition from residents.
With a booming construction activity in the zone, BBMP officials hope to bring all properties in the tax net. With just 27,000 properties being assessed for tax so far, the civic body has started digital mapping of all properties in the zone using the Geographical Information System (GIS).
“We have managed to collect Rs 24 crore as property tax in the last one year. With a target of Rs 55 crore for the coming year, we hope to mobilise more funds for developing infrastructure in the area,” a jurisdictional BBMP official said.
More borewells were being drilled to ensure regular water supply. Work on providing Cauvery water to the area is under progress as part of the Greater Bangalore Water Supply and Sanitation Project (GBWASP), the official added."
Monday, March 17, 2008
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Freeloaders wring BWSSB dry of revenue-Bangalore-Cities-The Times of India
Freeloaders wring BWSSB dry of revenue-Bangalore-Cities-The Times of India: "he Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) does not have a clue about what happens to 315 million litres of water per day pumped from a distance of 98 km. For, 35% of the 900 MLD water being brought in to Bangalore is unaccounted for.
What’s worse, unauthorized water connections are increasing by the day and the board loses a minimum of Rs 42 lakh every month as a result.
With summer round the bend, the city is likely to grapple with a shortage of drinking water as pilferage and water leaks continue unabated. But BWSSB seems to be oblivious to these problems.
BWSSB supplies 900 MLD water to 5.2 lakh households in Bangalore, which earns it a revenue of nearly Rs 35 crore every month. However, 35% of the water supplied is unaccounted for, with over 35,000 households enjoying free water.
BWSSB officials said slums in the city have unauthorized water connections — there are 400 notified slums where 20% of the population resides. The main offenders are slums at Pillanna Garden, DJ Halli, Ejipura and Neelasandra.
The minimum slab of water bill is Rs 120 per month in the domestic sector, while the maximum slab is Rs 800. Thus, the loss incurred could be anywhere between Rs 42 lakh and Rs 2.8 crore per month.
“Of the 35% of unaccounted for water, 8-12% is due to unauthorized connections. The board has been trying to regularize water connections for many years, but with little success,’’ said officials. Since 1993 till date, around 50,000 connections have been regularized.
Now, slum-dwellers cannot get away with unauthorized water connections. From March 1, BWSSB has been sending circulars to all slum in Bangalore, which have metered water supply. “We’re giving consumers time till April 30 to regularize their connections.
If they don’t do the same within the stipulated time, a penalty of Rs 10,000 will be levied, apart from a six-month jail term,’’ officials added.
As per the Board Act, pilferaging can lead to both penalty and imprisonment or just penalty or imprisonment depending on the nature of the case.
Connection charges can be paid in two instalments. You can apply for connections by enclosing hakku patras issued by the BDA, slum clearance board and BBMP, along with any proof of residence, like ration card, election identity card, identity card issued by the Karnataka Slum Clearance Board along with the application.
Like every year, this summer too won’t be different, for BWSSB will face trouble in getting water pumped up to Bangalore from three stations — T K Halli, Harohalli and Tatguni. 910 MLD water is supplied every alternate day. But, come April, BWSSB too will be affected if there is a power problem. About 50 cycles of power is required every second, for water to be pumped properly. “Even if it comes down by a couple of cycles, then water will not get lifted. As a result, only about 700 MLD or 800 MLD water will reach Bangalore,’’ said another official.
Despite BWSSB having requested KPTC to rectify this problem during summer, it hasn’t been taken into consideration. Bangalore will also face double the shortage, if Bescom fails to supply power. ‘Lack of power supply in the city will hinder easy transfer of water from a ground-level reservoir to the other. It will become difficult to lift water during power crisis,’’ added the official.
However, severely affected areas will be supplied with water through tankers. This problem persists till mid-May.
ashwini.sathyanarayana@timesgroup.com"
What’s worse, unauthorized water connections are increasing by the day and the board loses a minimum of Rs 42 lakh every month as a result.
With summer round the bend, the city is likely to grapple with a shortage of drinking water as pilferage and water leaks continue unabated. But BWSSB seems to be oblivious to these problems.
BWSSB supplies 900 MLD water to 5.2 lakh households in Bangalore, which earns it a revenue of nearly Rs 35 crore every month. However, 35% of the water supplied is unaccounted for, with over 35,000 households enjoying free water.
BWSSB officials said slums in the city have unauthorized water connections — there are 400 notified slums where 20% of the population resides. The main offenders are slums at Pillanna Garden, DJ Halli, Ejipura and Neelasandra.
The minimum slab of water bill is Rs 120 per month in the domestic sector, while the maximum slab is Rs 800. Thus, the loss incurred could be anywhere between Rs 42 lakh and Rs 2.8 crore per month.
“Of the 35% of unaccounted for water, 8-12% is due to unauthorized connections. The board has been trying to regularize water connections for many years, but with little success,’’ said officials. Since 1993 till date, around 50,000 connections have been regularized.
Now, slum-dwellers cannot get away with unauthorized water connections. From March 1, BWSSB has been sending circulars to all slum in Bangalore, which have metered water supply. “We’re giving consumers time till April 30 to regularize their connections.
If they don’t do the same within the stipulated time, a penalty of Rs 10,000 will be levied, apart from a six-month jail term,’’ officials added.
As per the Board Act, pilferaging can lead to both penalty and imprisonment or just penalty or imprisonment depending on the nature of the case.
Connection charges can be paid in two instalments. You can apply for connections by enclosing hakku patras issued by the BDA, slum clearance board and BBMP, along with any proof of residence, like ration card, election identity card, identity card issued by the Karnataka Slum Clearance Board along with the application.
Like every year, this summer too won’t be different, for BWSSB will face trouble in getting water pumped up to Bangalore from three stations — T K Halli, Harohalli and Tatguni. 910 MLD water is supplied every alternate day. But, come April, BWSSB too will be affected if there is a power problem. About 50 cycles of power is required every second, for water to be pumped properly. “Even if it comes down by a couple of cycles, then water will not get lifted. As a result, only about 700 MLD or 800 MLD water will reach Bangalore,’’ said another official.
Despite BWSSB having requested KPTC to rectify this problem during summer, it hasn’t been taken into consideration. Bangalore will also face double the shortage, if Bescom fails to supply power. ‘Lack of power supply in the city will hinder easy transfer of water from a ground-level reservoir to the other. It will become difficult to lift water during power crisis,’’ added the official.
However, severely affected areas will be supplied with water through tankers. This problem persists till mid-May.
ashwini.sathyanarayana@timesgroup.com"
Sunday, March 2, 2008
A million litres of water daily to airport The Hindu : Front Page
The Hindu : Front Page : A million litres of water daily to airport: "While a cloud of uncertainty hangs over several issues concerning the international airport at Devanahalli — road connectivity and the date of the airport’s opening, for example — there is one critical requirement that appears to be on track: round-the-clock potable water supply.
Transporting water 22 km away is no mean feat and the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) is confident of achieving that. The board is due to sign an agreement with Bangalore International Airport Ltd., to provide one million litres of potable water to the airport every day when it starts functioning.
Although this falls sorely short of nine million litres that the BIAL asked for three years ago, it is nevertheless a major commitment for a public utility that must first serve the water needs of Bangalore’s residents.
Thus, the water supply to the airport, which is located in Bangalore Rural district, will be contingent on whether the board receives adequate water from its river source. “In case we cannot pump water from Cauvery for some reason, then we will not be able to provide water to the airport.
There is no penalty for this in the agreement,” Latha Krishna Rao, BWSSB chairperson, told The Hindu.
All agreements that the BWSSB enters into with industries are subject to water availability and pressure. “We will not make an exception in the case of BIAL,” Ms. Rao said.
For the BIAL, water from BWSSB is critical as there is a blanket ban that the Mines and Geology Department has imposed in the area on drilling borewells for groundwater.
“As the groundwater in the area has been classified as overexploited, no borewells can be drilled for any purpose, be it industrial or agricultural,” said N. Chandranna, senior geologist at the Mines and Geology Department.
Rate
The water is crucial in that it can service the hotels and other passenger facilities on the BIAL campus.
Hotels outside the campus are facing problems with regular water supply as the area falls outside the jurisdiction of the BWSSB. For every kilolitre the BWSSB provides, it will charge the BIAL Rs. 66, which is 10 per cent more than the commercial rates.
This is in addition to the Rs. 1,20,000 that the BIAL will have to pay the water board every month as infrastructure maintenance charge.
While insisting that water supply to BIAL will not affect supply to the northern or western parts of Bangalore, Ms. Rao said water would be supplied to BIAL from the 100 million litres of additional water that is being drawn from the Cauvery to cater to the 72 newly added wards in the city.
The water is being supplied through a 22-km pipeline that the BWSSB laid from Hegganahalli near Nagarbhavi to the airport campus.
The water will have to be additionally pumped at Hegganahalli and from the reservoir on the University of Agricultural Sciences campus. "
Transporting water 22 km away is no mean feat and the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) is confident of achieving that. The board is due to sign an agreement with Bangalore International Airport Ltd., to provide one million litres of potable water to the airport every day when it starts functioning.
Although this falls sorely short of nine million litres that the BIAL asked for three years ago, it is nevertheless a major commitment for a public utility that must first serve the water needs of Bangalore’s residents.
Thus, the water supply to the airport, which is located in Bangalore Rural district, will be contingent on whether the board receives adequate water from its river source. “In case we cannot pump water from Cauvery for some reason, then we will not be able to provide water to the airport.
There is no penalty for this in the agreement,” Latha Krishna Rao, BWSSB chairperson, told The Hindu.
All agreements that the BWSSB enters into with industries are subject to water availability and pressure. “We will not make an exception in the case of BIAL,” Ms. Rao said.
For the BIAL, water from BWSSB is critical as there is a blanket ban that the Mines and Geology Department has imposed in the area on drilling borewells for groundwater.
“As the groundwater in the area has been classified as overexploited, no borewells can be drilled for any purpose, be it industrial or agricultural,” said N. Chandranna, senior geologist at the Mines and Geology Department.
Rate
The water is crucial in that it can service the hotels and other passenger facilities on the BIAL campus.
Hotels outside the campus are facing problems with regular water supply as the area falls outside the jurisdiction of the BWSSB. For every kilolitre the BWSSB provides, it will charge the BIAL Rs. 66, which is 10 per cent more than the commercial rates.
This is in addition to the Rs. 1,20,000 that the BIAL will have to pay the water board every month as infrastructure maintenance charge.
While insisting that water supply to BIAL will not affect supply to the northern or western parts of Bangalore, Ms. Rao said water would be supplied to BIAL from the 100 million litres of additional water that is being drawn from the Cauvery to cater to the 72 newly added wards in the city.
The water is being supplied through a 22-km pipeline that the BWSSB laid from Hegganahalli near Nagarbhavi to the airport campus.
The water will have to be additionally pumped at Hegganahalli and from the reservoir on the University of Agricultural Sciences campus. "
Thursday, February 21, 2008
BWSSB to recycle water
BWSSB to recycle water: "The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) will undertake a project to promote use of recycled water for drinking purposes in the city.
The project will be implemented in phases with the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) agreeing to fund 35 per cent of the project cost (Rs 472 crore).
The project has been proposed as the demand for water has already reached 1.2 billion litres per day (BLD) as against the availability of 930 million litres per day (MLD) in Bangalore. Besides, the city�s water resources are dwindling with the population crossing the 7 million mark.
According to a release from BWSSB, the JNNURM Central Screening Committee, which met in New-Delhi last week, accorded sanction for the project.
The remaining 65 per cent of the project cost will be funded by the state government and it includes a loan component from Japan Bank of International Co-operation.
The BWSSB will collect used water in Visvesvaraya Valley. �The water will undergo tertiary treatment, ultra filtration and membrane process. The BWSSB will augment 135 million litres of water per day from this process. The project will be completed by 2010-11,� the BWSSB said.
The BWSSB is working on various projects to meet the growing demand for water in the City. By 2025, the demand for water in the city is likely to go up to 2.2 BLD.
BWSSB draws water from Tippagondanahalli reservoir (148 MLD) and Cauvery river (810 MLD). The Cauvery river cannot meet the requirements of the growing city.
This has forced BWSSB to restrict domestic water supply to alternate days.
The water shortage is aggravated by a huge share of water being unaccounted for � as high as 38 per cent � due to illegal tapping and leakage. Therefore, the actual supply of water to consumers is approximately 530 MLD. In addition, the ground water draft (through borewell and open wells) in the city is estimated at 750 MLD.
At present, the agency supplies recycled water containing �biological oxygen demand� (BOD) between 20 per cent and 30 per cent (considered fit for washing, gardening and industrial purposes) to major industries around the city.
Similarly, it is working out a plan with the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) for laying separate pipelines to supply both drinking and recycled water under the dual water supply policy in new residential townships like Visvesvaraya Layout and Arkavathy Layout.
The agency is expecting more funding from the JNNURM, which has already sanctioned Rs 404 crore to the BWSSB for seven different projects.
They include replacement and rehabilitation of existing sewerage system in Bangalore - Rs 176.75 crore; augmentation of drinking water from Cauvery Water Supply Scheme (CWSS) Stage-4 Phase-1 - Rs 12.26 crore; bulk flow metering and monitoring system in Bangalore - Rs 15.31 crores; underground drainage facilities and road restoration in Kengeri - Rs 18.76 crore; Yelahanka - Rs 15 crore; Rajarajeshwarinagar - Rs 41 crore and Byatarayanapura - Rs 125 crore."
The project will be implemented in phases with the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) agreeing to fund 35 per cent of the project cost (Rs 472 crore).
The project has been proposed as the demand for water has already reached 1.2 billion litres per day (BLD) as against the availability of 930 million litres per day (MLD) in Bangalore. Besides, the city�s water resources are dwindling with the population crossing the 7 million mark.
According to a release from BWSSB, the JNNURM Central Screening Committee, which met in New-Delhi last week, accorded sanction for the project.
The remaining 65 per cent of the project cost will be funded by the state government and it includes a loan component from Japan Bank of International Co-operation.
The BWSSB will collect used water in Visvesvaraya Valley. �The water will undergo tertiary treatment, ultra filtration and membrane process. The BWSSB will augment 135 million litres of water per day from this process. The project will be completed by 2010-11,� the BWSSB said.
The BWSSB is working on various projects to meet the growing demand for water in the City. By 2025, the demand for water in the city is likely to go up to 2.2 BLD.
BWSSB draws water from Tippagondanahalli reservoir (148 MLD) and Cauvery river (810 MLD). The Cauvery river cannot meet the requirements of the growing city.
This has forced BWSSB to restrict domestic water supply to alternate days.
The water shortage is aggravated by a huge share of water being unaccounted for � as high as 38 per cent � due to illegal tapping and leakage. Therefore, the actual supply of water to consumers is approximately 530 MLD. In addition, the ground water draft (through borewell and open wells) in the city is estimated at 750 MLD.
At present, the agency supplies recycled water containing �biological oxygen demand� (BOD) between 20 per cent and 30 per cent (considered fit for washing, gardening and industrial purposes) to major industries around the city.
Similarly, it is working out a plan with the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) for laying separate pipelines to supply both drinking and recycled water under the dual water supply policy in new residential townships like Visvesvaraya Layout and Arkavathy Layout.
The agency is expecting more funding from the JNNURM, which has already sanctioned Rs 404 crore to the BWSSB for seven different projects.
They include replacement and rehabilitation of existing sewerage system in Bangalore - Rs 176.75 crore; augmentation of drinking water from Cauvery Water Supply Scheme (CWSS) Stage-4 Phase-1 - Rs 12.26 crore; bulk flow metering and monitoring system in Bangalore - Rs 15.31 crores; underground drainage facilities and road restoration in Kengeri - Rs 18.76 crore; Yelahanka - Rs 15 crore; Rajarajeshwarinagar - Rs 41 crore and Byatarayanapura - Rs 125 crore."
Citizens take bath on road to protest-Bangalore-Cities-The Times of India
Citizens take bath on road to protest-Bangalore-Cities-The Times of India: "Senior citizens took a ‘bath' at 3 pm on Wednesday at the Government Arts and Science College grounds. S Lakshmanan, K Chakrapani and H R Gopalakrishna enacted this scene to draw BWSSB's attention to the plight of citizens who don't have access to water for days on end.
These men are members of Ramamurthynagar Welfare Association, which wanted to attract the attention of BWSSB and demanded that water be supplied at the earliest.
'Though Greater Bangalore Water Supply charges were paid 3 years ago, we're yet to receive water in our taps. Even an year after the formation of Greater Bangalore, residents here have been facing acute shortage of water,' said members. Now, residents are forced to purchase water from tankers and drink packaged water, they added.
The protesters urged BWSSB to drop the penalty of Rs 100 per month, which is being levied from 2004 on defaulters of GBWASP charges.
A resident of Pai Layout, K Jayarama, said BWSSB engineers have been fleecing the residents by charging user contribution at 10% on the cost. That apart, engineers have been collecting Rs 2,000 for inspecting the house to levy prorata charges.
Exorbitant road-cutting charges have also been collected from individual house and flat owners. Instead of collecting road-cutting charges individually, it can be collected as a whole from residents, the members complained."
These men are members of Ramamurthynagar Welfare Association, which wanted to attract the attention of BWSSB and demanded that water be supplied at the earliest.
'Though Greater Bangalore Water Supply charges were paid 3 years ago, we're yet to receive water in our taps. Even an year after the formation of Greater Bangalore, residents here have been facing acute shortage of water,' said members. Now, residents are forced to purchase water from tankers and drink packaged water, they added.
The protesters urged BWSSB to drop the penalty of Rs 100 per month, which is being levied from 2004 on defaulters of GBWASP charges.
A resident of Pai Layout, K Jayarama, said BWSSB engineers have been fleecing the residents by charging user contribution at 10% on the cost. That apart, engineers have been collecting Rs 2,000 for inspecting the house to levy prorata charges.
Exorbitant road-cutting charges have also been collected from individual house and flat owners. Instead of collecting road-cutting charges individually, it can be collected as a whole from residents, the members complained."
Bangalore to recycle used water for drinking purposes Khaleej Times Online -
Khaleej Times Online - Bangalore to recycle used water for drinking purposes: "The growing demand for water has forced the authorities in Bangalore to take up a project to promote use of recycled water for drinking purposes.
The demand for drinking water has reached 1.2 billion litres per day in Bangalore against the availability of 930 million litres per day. The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has decided to implement a Rs4.72 billion project to recycle water for drinking purposes under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).
According to a statement from BWSSB, the project has been sanctioned by JNNURM’s Screening Committee, which met in New Delhi last week. Under the project, BWSSB will collect used water in Visvesvaraya valley on the outskirts of the city. “The used water will undergo tertiary treatment, ultra filtration and membrane process. This will help the authorities to supply an additional 135 million litres per day once the project is completed by 2010”, the statement said.
Presently, the drinking water supply to Bangalore is being met by River Cauvery, which flows at a distance of almost 120kms from Bangalore, and the Thippegondanahalli reservoir. But, the 810 million litres from Cauvery and 150 million litres from Thippegondanahalli reservoir are inadequate creating a shortfall of more than 250 million litres per day."
The demand for drinking water has reached 1.2 billion litres per day in Bangalore against the availability of 930 million litres per day. The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has decided to implement a Rs4.72 billion project to recycle water for drinking purposes under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).
According to a statement from BWSSB, the project has been sanctioned by JNNURM’s Screening Committee, which met in New Delhi last week. Under the project, BWSSB will collect used water in Visvesvaraya valley on the outskirts of the city. “The used water will undergo tertiary treatment, ultra filtration and membrane process. This will help the authorities to supply an additional 135 million litres per day once the project is completed by 2010”, the statement said.
Presently, the drinking water supply to Bangalore is being met by River Cauvery, which flows at a distance of almost 120kms from Bangalore, and the Thippegondanahalli reservoir. But, the 810 million litres from Cauvery and 150 million litres from Thippegondanahalli reservoir are inadequate creating a shortfall of more than 250 million litres per day."
The Hindu : Front Page : Magic boxes to enter Raj Bhavan Road
The Hindu : Front Page : Magic boxes to enter Raj Bhavan Road: "The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is planning to build four more “magic box” underpasses at GPO Circle and Raj Bhavan, Basava Bhavan and High Grounds junctions to ensure smooth flow of traffic on Sankey Road.
Construction of underpasses at these locations has become inevitable to prevent vehicles from piling up at traffic signals at the three junctions after moving smoothly on the Bellary Road stretch till the High Grounds junction.
After the completion of the five new underpasses on the Bellary Road stretch (from Anand Nagar junction on Bellary Road till Windsor Manor junction on Sankey Road), you can reach High Grounds junction from Hebbal flyover in just five minutes at a speed of 40 km to 50 km an hour compared to the 20 to 40 minutes taken at present."
BBMP officials expect a huge inflow of vehicles at the High Grounds junction after the completion of the proposed five underpasses on Bellary Road, which will further extend the waiting time at High Grounds, Basava Bhavan junction, Coffee Board junction through Infantry Road, especially during peak hours. Which is why they say that the new underpasses at GPO Circle and Raj Bhavan, Basava Bhavan and High Grounds junctions is the only solution to speed up traffic.
The BBMP has already made plans for this purpose and initiated discussions with the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage to shift utility pipes at these junctions.
Two-way traffic
The officials pointed out that restoration of two-way traffic on Raj Bhavan Road (between Minsk Square and Basava Bhavan junction) is essential to begin construction of the underpasses at GPO circle and Raj Bhavan junction.
“We have apprised the city traffic police and requested them to prepare a traffic management plan to suit the design of the underpasses,” said a senior BBMP official. The drive from Hebbal flyover to central part of the city will be signal-free when all the 10 underpasses are built.
Proper pedestrian crossings will be provided at all these junctions (GPO circle, Raj Bhavan, Basava Bhavan and High Grounds) unlike the stretch between High Ground junction and BDA junction, and from Cauvery junction to Mekhri circle, the officials pointed out.
The BBMP is also proposing skywalks for pedestrian at a few places on Sankey Road-Bellary Road junction, depending on the alignment of the proposed elevated rail link to international airport.
Defence land
Meanwhile, the BBMP is unable to widen the road towards Sanjaynagar from the Bellary Road junction as the defence authorities have not yet responded to its request for some land belonging to Air Force near the Bellary Road junction.
The width of Bellary Road from Hebbal flyover will be 45 metres till Sanjaynagar junction, 35 metres till Mekhri circle and 24 metres from Mekhri circle to High Grounds. The road can be widened between Mekhri circle and BDA junction if a portion of the Palace Ground (under legal dispute) is made available, said BBMP Chief Engineer (Major Roads) Krishna Reddy.
Construction of underpasses at these locations has become inevitable to prevent vehicles from piling up at traffic signals at the three junctions after moving smoothly on the Bellary Road stretch till the High Grounds junction.
After the completion of the five new underpasses on the Bellary Road stretch (from Anand Nagar junction on Bellary Road till Windsor Manor junction on Sankey Road), you can reach High Grounds junction from Hebbal flyover in just five minutes at a speed of 40 km to 50 km an hour compared to the 20 to 40 minutes taken at present."
BBMP officials expect a huge inflow of vehicles at the High Grounds junction after the completion of the proposed five underpasses on Bellary Road, which will further extend the waiting time at High Grounds, Basava Bhavan junction, Coffee Board junction through Infantry Road, especially during peak hours. Which is why they say that the new underpasses at GPO Circle and Raj Bhavan, Basava Bhavan and High Grounds junctions is the only solution to speed up traffic.
The BBMP has already made plans for this purpose and initiated discussions with the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage to shift utility pipes at these junctions.
Two-way traffic
The officials pointed out that restoration of two-way traffic on Raj Bhavan Road (between Minsk Square and Basava Bhavan junction) is essential to begin construction of the underpasses at GPO circle and Raj Bhavan junction.
“We have apprised the city traffic police and requested them to prepare a traffic management plan to suit the design of the underpasses,” said a senior BBMP official. The drive from Hebbal flyover to central part of the city will be signal-free when all the 10 underpasses are built.
Proper pedestrian crossings will be provided at all these junctions (GPO circle, Raj Bhavan, Basava Bhavan and High Grounds) unlike the stretch between High Ground junction and BDA junction, and from Cauvery junction to Mekhri circle, the officials pointed out.
The BBMP is also proposing skywalks for pedestrian at a few places on Sankey Road-Bellary Road junction, depending on the alignment of the proposed elevated rail link to international airport.
Defence land
Meanwhile, the BBMP is unable to widen the road towards Sanjaynagar from the Bellary Road junction as the defence authorities have not yet responded to its request for some land belonging to Air Force near the Bellary Road junction.
The width of Bellary Road from Hebbal flyover will be 45 metres till Sanjaynagar junction, 35 metres till Mekhri circle and 24 metres from Mekhri circle to High Grounds. The road can be widened between Mekhri circle and BDA junction if a portion of the Palace Ground (under legal dispute) is made available, said BBMP Chief Engineer (Major Roads) Krishna Reddy.
One lakh apartments may remain vacant in Bangalore by April The Hindu : Front Page
The Hindu : Front Page : One lakh apartments may remain vacant in Bangalore by April: "Is Bangalore’s real estate market heading for a slump? Such is the impact of the real estate slowdown in Bangalore that the number of unoccupied apartments in and around the city is expected to touch nearly one lakh by April.
Citing the outcome of an “informal survey,” Inspector-General of Registration and Commissioner of Stamps H. Shashidhar told a workshop organised here on Tuesday by the Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board that these indeed were the current market trends.
Later, speaking to The Hindu, he said that the figure included both old and new apartments, i.e., those that had not been sold, those that had not been rented out and those now under construction. Mr. Shashidhar said that registrations of property in the State had reduced by 45 to 50 per cent, partially due to the ban on registration of revenue sites.
Infrastructure
Lack of infrastructure such as proper roads, drinking water supply and availability of schools had also contributed to the slowdown in property transactions. Moreover, people had become cautious while buying property and choosing only those which had clear titles." (snip)
Citing the outcome of an “informal survey,” Inspector-General of Registration and Commissioner of Stamps H. Shashidhar told a workshop organised here on Tuesday by the Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board that these indeed were the current market trends.
Later, speaking to The Hindu, he said that the figure included both old and new apartments, i.e., those that had not been sold, those that had not been rented out and those now under construction. Mr. Shashidhar said that registrations of property in the State had reduced by 45 to 50 per cent, partially due to the ban on registration of revenue sites.
Infrastructure
Lack of infrastructure such as proper roads, drinking water supply and availability of schools had also contributed to the slowdown in property transactions. Moreover, people had become cautious while buying property and choosing only those which had clear titles." (snip)
Monday, February 11, 2008
Underpasses: BWSSB begins shifting of water lines The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News
The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Underpasses: BWSSB begins shifting of water lines: "To avoid the problems that were encountered during the work on the underpass at the Cauvery junction, the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has taken up shifting of water and sewage lines well ahead of the start of work on the remaining six underpasses on Bellary Road leading to the international airport at Devanahalli.
BWSSB officials say that the reason the water pipes were cut at the Cauvery junction was because they were not given enough time to exhaustively check the existence of all the active lines.
“But now that we have been informed in advance, we have taken up work at the other junctions,” BWSSB chairperson Latha Krishna Rao told The Hindu. Underpasses will be constructed at Balabrooie junction, Cunningham Road junction, Windsor Manor junction, BDA junction, Sanjaynagar junction and CBI junction.
The first one at Cauvery junction is nearing completion. The road from Hebbal flyover to Balabrooie junction is also being widened.
Building these underpasses and widening the roads entails massive shifting of utility lines, particularly water and sanitary lines.
“We have data on the major lines, as the BWSSB had undertaken GIS infrastructure mapping under Indo-French protocol in core areas. Fortunately, this section was also mapped and we have a fair idea of the water and sanitary lines,” Ms. Rao said.
As per the road alignment, the existing water and sanitary lines fall right below the underpasses at many points. The BWSSB has to shift these lines to the extreme ends of the road and link them up to the existing ones.
Shifting of the water and sanitary lines would be completed at the BDA junction on Sunday, while the work is complete at the CBI junction.
“We only need to link up the lines to the existing ones at the CBI junction,” Ms. Rao said.
Meanwhile, the complicated piece of work for the BWSSB lies at the Windsor Manor junction.
“The alignment of the underpass at the junction falls right under our main feeder line, which provides water to all of Bangalore North. Shifting this will be a major task,” she said.
This feeder line starts from the BWSSB reservoir at the High Grounds. Following the widening of the Golf Course Road, about 870 metres of the pipeline has been shifted and another 130 metres remain to be shifted.
Electric cables
One of the problems that the BWSSB encounters in the massive shifting of lines is the presence of live electric cables.
“We have to stop work when we come across underground electric wires. We have to wait for Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM) to complete the work, and even they take time as they simply cannot shut off power to the entire area for long periods,” Ms. Rao said.
Coordination
Coordination between the BBMP and BWSSB, lack of which had been a major cause for delay in projects, seems to have improved.
“The BBMP has already given us Rs. 6 crore for shifting water and sanitary lines at the Golf Course and Raj Bhavan. Money is expected soon for the work we have undertaken at Cauvery and BDA junctions,” Ms. Rao said."
BWSSB officials say that the reason the water pipes were cut at the Cauvery junction was because they were not given enough time to exhaustively check the existence of all the active lines.
“But now that we have been informed in advance, we have taken up work at the other junctions,” BWSSB chairperson Latha Krishna Rao told The Hindu. Underpasses will be constructed at Balabrooie junction, Cunningham Road junction, Windsor Manor junction, BDA junction, Sanjaynagar junction and CBI junction.
The first one at Cauvery junction is nearing completion. The road from Hebbal flyover to Balabrooie junction is also being widened.
Building these underpasses and widening the roads entails massive shifting of utility lines, particularly water and sanitary lines.
“We have data on the major lines, as the BWSSB had undertaken GIS infrastructure mapping under Indo-French protocol in core areas. Fortunately, this section was also mapped and we have a fair idea of the water and sanitary lines,” Ms. Rao said.
As per the road alignment, the existing water and sanitary lines fall right below the underpasses at many points. The BWSSB has to shift these lines to the extreme ends of the road and link them up to the existing ones.
Shifting of the water and sanitary lines would be completed at the BDA junction on Sunday, while the work is complete at the CBI junction.
“We only need to link up the lines to the existing ones at the CBI junction,” Ms. Rao said.
Meanwhile, the complicated piece of work for the BWSSB lies at the Windsor Manor junction.
“The alignment of the underpass at the junction falls right under our main feeder line, which provides water to all of Bangalore North. Shifting this will be a major task,” she said.
This feeder line starts from the BWSSB reservoir at the High Grounds. Following the widening of the Golf Course Road, about 870 metres of the pipeline has been shifted and another 130 metres remain to be shifted.
Electric cables
One of the problems that the BWSSB encounters in the massive shifting of lines is the presence of live electric cables.
“We have to stop work when we come across underground electric wires. We have to wait for Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM) to complete the work, and even they take time as they simply cannot shut off power to the entire area for long periods,” Ms. Rao said.
Coordination
Coordination between the BBMP and BWSSB, lack of which had been a major cause for delay in projects, seems to have improved.
“The BBMP has already given us Rs. 6 crore for shifting water and sanitary lines at the Golf Course and Raj Bhavan. Money is expected soon for the work we have undertaken at Cauvery and BDA junctions,” Ms. Rao said."
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Deccan Herald - Water connection charges hiked
Deccan Herald - Water connection charges hiked: "The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has hiked the pro-rata charges the one-time payment for new water connections for commercial and multi-storey residential buildings with effect from February 1.
Highly placed sources told Deccan Herald that the BWSSB board has approved the increase and zonal offices have been intimated about it.
The hike has been effected to generate additional funds for development works.
The last revision was effected in December 1999.
The rates have been hiked by Rs 10 per square metre for residences, Rs 40 per sq metre for apartments and Rs 60 per sq metre for commercial establishments. One half of the amount is for water supply and the rest for sanitation.
Residences having second floor and above with sital area of 1,200 sq feet and above will now have to pay Rs 150 per square metre instead of Rs 140.
All apartments, irrespective of sital area, will have to pay Rs 200 per sq metre in place of the earlier Rs 160. Commercial buildings, irrespective of sital area, have to pay Rs 300 per square metre in place of the Rs 240.
Government buildings will continue to be charged Rs 240 per sq metre.
Applications submitted till January 31, will be processed as per the old rates. For applications submitted after January 31, the new rates apply.
The hike took unawares those who came to apply for new connections at Cauvery Bhavan on Friday.
Some residents of Pai Layout, Benniganahalli, were shocked when asked to pay more. “It is unfortunate. We want to know if the news is true or not?” asked a resident."
Highly placed sources told Deccan Herald that the BWSSB board has approved the increase and zonal offices have been intimated about it.
The hike has been effected to generate additional funds for development works.
The last revision was effected in December 1999.
The rates have been hiked by Rs 10 per square metre for residences, Rs 40 per sq metre for apartments and Rs 60 per sq metre for commercial establishments. One half of the amount is for water supply and the rest for sanitation.
Residences having second floor and above with sital area of 1,200 sq feet and above will now have to pay Rs 150 per square metre instead of Rs 140.
All apartments, irrespective of sital area, will have to pay Rs 200 per sq metre in place of the earlier Rs 160. Commercial buildings, irrespective of sital area, have to pay Rs 300 per square metre in place of the Rs 240.
Government buildings will continue to be charged Rs 240 per sq metre.
Applications submitted till January 31, will be processed as per the old rates. For applications submitted after January 31, the new rates apply.
The hike took unawares those who came to apply for new connections at Cauvery Bhavan on Friday.
Some residents of Pai Layout, Benniganahalli, were shocked when asked to pay more. “It is unfortunate. We want to know if the news is true or not?” asked a resident."
Friday, February 8, 2008
Ring road project poses threat to Bangalore’s vital water source The Hindu : Front Page
The Hindu : Front Page : Ring road project poses threat to Bangalore’s vital water source: "With the land within the ecologically sensitive Thippagondanahalli reservoir catchment area set to be acquired for the first phase of Peripheral Ring Road, the threat of irreparable damage to a vital water source for Bangalore city looms large.
The final notification issued by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) for acquisition of land for the road project lists 30 survey numbers that were declared out of bounds for any activity except agriculture in 2003.
Ten survey numbers in Madanayakanahalli, 12 in Hanumanthasagara and eight in Kudaragere, all in Dasanapura hobli, fall under Zone 3 of the Thippagondanahalli catchment area as they are located within one km from the banks of the Arkavathy.
In the land bearing these survey numbers, “no person shall carry on activities other than agriculture or agriculture-related activities without prior permission”, states an order issued in 2003 by the Departments of Forest and Ecology and Environment. The order was issued after a study conducted by ISRO stated that “unplanned development in the catchment area had led to deterioration of water quality and reduced inflow into the reservoir”.
The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board, which supplies water from the reservoir to western parts of Bangalore, is not aware of the acquisition. Its Chairperson Latha Krishna Rau told The Hindu that the board would have to examine the alignment and the survey numbers being acquired to assess the impact on the reservoir. The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), which monitors the catchment area, is yet to take cognisance of the matter. “We did ask earlier for an environment impact assessment report, but the BDA replied that they need not report to us as the ring road was not a national highway,” H.C. Sharatchandra, Chairman of the KSPCB, said. The BDA, which is due to announce its compensation package for land acquisition, said it did not need to take any clearance as it was not implementing the project. “We are simply acquiring land. The NHAI will have to seek clearance as it is constructing the road,” BDA Commissioner M.K. Shankarlinge Gowda said."
The final notification issued by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) for acquisition of land for the road project lists 30 survey numbers that were declared out of bounds for any activity except agriculture in 2003.
Ten survey numbers in Madanayakanahalli, 12 in Hanumanthasagara and eight in Kudaragere, all in Dasanapura hobli, fall under Zone 3 of the Thippagondanahalli catchment area as they are located within one km from the banks of the Arkavathy.
In the land bearing these survey numbers, “no person shall carry on activities other than agriculture or agriculture-related activities without prior permission”, states an order issued in 2003 by the Departments of Forest and Ecology and Environment. The order was issued after a study conducted by ISRO stated that “unplanned development in the catchment area had led to deterioration of water quality and reduced inflow into the reservoir”.
The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board, which supplies water from the reservoir to western parts of Bangalore, is not aware of the acquisition. Its Chairperson Latha Krishna Rau told The Hindu that the board would have to examine the alignment and the survey numbers being acquired to assess the impact on the reservoir. The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), which monitors the catchment area, is yet to take cognisance of the matter. “We did ask earlier for an environment impact assessment report, but the BDA replied that they need not report to us as the ring road was not a national highway,” H.C. Sharatchandra, Chairman of the KSPCB, said. The BDA, which is due to announce its compensation package for land acquisition, said it did not need to take any clearance as it was not implementing the project. “We are simply acquiring land. The NHAI will have to seek clearance as it is constructing the road,” BDA Commissioner M.K. Shankarlinge Gowda said."
The Hindu : Front Page : Thirty persons down with gastroenteritis in Bangalore
The Hindu : Front Page : Thirty persons down with gastroenteritis in Bangalore: "At least 30 people from two areas in Bangalore have been admitted to the Epidemics Diseases Hospital (Isolation Hospital) in the past four days after they reported symptoms of gastroenteritis.
Twenty patients are from Neelasandra and the rest are from Bharathinagar, and the cases are confirmed as gastroenteritis, sources at the Isolation Hospital told The Hindu. Four people from Neelasandra were admitted on Monday.
No case of cholera has been reported yet. A sample from a private hospital at Bharthinagar tested positive for cholera but on verification turned negative, a health official from Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) said.
Confusion prevailed in the BBMP over how many cases of gastroenteritis had been confirmed. Chief Health Officer at BBMP L.T. Gayathri said that 24 cases had been reported from Bharathinagar and six from Neelasandra. She maintained that not one case had been confirmed yet.
The source of gastroenteritis has been traced to water contamination in Bharathinagar. At Neelsandra, area medical officer Jayarame Gowda said that causes were yet to be ascertained and an indication of it would only be available on Tuesday.
Following the death of a woman at Bharathinagar allegedly because of water contamination, the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board on Monday suspended K.S. Renukumar, area assistant engineer, “for negligence and dereliction of duty”, a press release from the board said.
Mr. Renukumar had apparently not been responding to complaints from the public.
On Monday, workers from the board were busy cleaning up the manholes in the area. “We are trying to identify where the sewage leak could have occurred. In the process, we are flushing out the manholes,” Executive Engineer Nagendrappa told The Hindu.
Results
The Central Water Testing Laboratory in the BWSSB has collected six samples from the areas around Bharathinagar and is in the process of analysing the samples. “The results of analysis would be known by noon on Tuesday. Bacteriological tests have been conducted mainly for gastroenteritis,” the sources said. The sources said that such a case had been reported for the first time, as Bangalore received pre-treated water, and that the analysis would show whether water had been contaminated. "
Twenty patients are from Neelasandra and the rest are from Bharathinagar, and the cases are confirmed as gastroenteritis, sources at the Isolation Hospital told The Hindu. Four people from Neelasandra were admitted on Monday.
No case of cholera has been reported yet. A sample from a private hospital at Bharthinagar tested positive for cholera but on verification turned negative, a health official from Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) said.
Confusion prevailed in the BBMP over how many cases of gastroenteritis had been confirmed. Chief Health Officer at BBMP L.T. Gayathri said that 24 cases had been reported from Bharathinagar and six from Neelasandra. She maintained that not one case had been confirmed yet.
The source of gastroenteritis has been traced to water contamination in Bharathinagar. At Neelsandra, area medical officer Jayarame Gowda said that causes were yet to be ascertained and an indication of it would only be available on Tuesday.
Following the death of a woman at Bharathinagar allegedly because of water contamination, the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board on Monday suspended K.S. Renukumar, area assistant engineer, “for negligence and dereliction of duty”, a press release from the board said.
Mr. Renukumar had apparently not been responding to complaints from the public.
On Monday, workers from the board were busy cleaning up the manholes in the area. “We are trying to identify where the sewage leak could have occurred. In the process, we are flushing out the manholes,” Executive Engineer Nagendrappa told The Hindu.
Results
The Central Water Testing Laboratory in the BWSSB has collected six samples from the areas around Bharathinagar and is in the process of analysing the samples. “The results of analysis would be known by noon on Tuesday. Bacteriological tests have been conducted mainly for gastroenteritis,” the sources said. The sources said that such a case had been reported for the first time, as Bangalore received pre-treated water, and that the analysis would show whether water had been contaminated. "
The Hindu : Front Page : Two gastro patients test positive for cholera in Bharathinagar
The Hindu : Front Page : Two gastro patients test positive for cholera in Bharathinagar: "The number of gastroenteritis cases in Bharathinagar area is coming down with 81 fresh cases reported from the area on Friday as against 528 cases on January 28, when there was an outbreak of the disease following contamination of drinking water.
Meanwhile, two of the six persons suffering from gastroenteritis tested positive for cholera and have been admitted to St. Philomena’s Hospital. The Epidemic Diseases (ED) Hospital treated 24 persons — 17 as inpatients — for gastroenteritis on Friday.
Although no new case of cholera was detected in ED Hospital since last three says, results of over 80 stool samples sent for laboratory tests are awaited.
According to the BBMP, 1,502 persons (896 adults and 606 children) have been treated for gastroenteritis at its hospital on Thimmaiah Road since January 28.
The BBMP has been distributing Halozone tablets (used for water purification) free of cost to Bharathinagar residents although the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has said that drinking water supplied to the area is clean.
The BBMP officials said that use of Halozone tablets would ensure that the water was free from bacteria even if there were remnants of contamination in the utensils used for storing water. The water could be used 15 minutes after dissolving the tablet in it, they said.
Meanwhile, Bahujan Samaj Party activists staged a demonstration in front of BWSSB office on Friday demanding replacement of old leaky sewer lines in Bharathinagar area.
‘Work as a team’
The advisers to the Governor have directed the heads of civic agencies in Bangalore to work as a team to contain the spread of gastroenteritis, according to officers who attended a meeting on Thursday.
The directive was issued apparently because of lack of coordination among various agencies in sharing information and taking corrective steps, the officials told The Hindu.
The advisers – S. Krishna Kumar and P.P. Prabhu – asked heads of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike and Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board and Health and Family Welfare officials to coordinate in tackling the crisis.
Appalling conditions
The outbreak of gastroenteritis has brought into focus the appalling living conditions in Thimmiah Road, Seppings Road, Bharatinagar, and Nehrupuram as each family has at least one member down with gastroenteritis.
At No. 120 on Thimmiah Road, 55 people stay in a cluster of one-room houses. Of these, 20 are down with gastroenteritis. Among them are a six-month-old baby and five elderly people. The sewerage intersects the drinking water line connected to this cluster.
Bernarde living in thesame area said the stormwater drain by the side of the road was blocked and the drainage pipe had cracked. The leaking wastewater sometimes flowed through the cluster and submerged the drinking water line. This was a common feature in the area, she said.
A Vinod Kumar, a long-time resident of the area, the water lines were laid 50 years ago.
On Seppings Road, the people were queuing up at a roadside as they did not get water for the last four days. Since the outbreak of gastroenteritis the BBMP has made arrangements for supply of drinking water through tankers. The medical and social workers have advised the residents not to drink water supplied through taps in the affected areas."
Meanwhile, two of the six persons suffering from gastroenteritis tested positive for cholera and have been admitted to St. Philomena’s Hospital. The Epidemic Diseases (ED) Hospital treated 24 persons — 17 as inpatients — for gastroenteritis on Friday.
Although no new case of cholera was detected in ED Hospital since last three says, results of over 80 stool samples sent for laboratory tests are awaited.
According to the BBMP, 1,502 persons (896 adults and 606 children) have been treated for gastroenteritis at its hospital on Thimmaiah Road since January 28.
The BBMP has been distributing Halozone tablets (used for water purification) free of cost to Bharathinagar residents although the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has said that drinking water supplied to the area is clean.
The BBMP officials said that use of Halozone tablets would ensure that the water was free from bacteria even if there were remnants of contamination in the utensils used for storing water. The water could be used 15 minutes after dissolving the tablet in it, they said.
Meanwhile, Bahujan Samaj Party activists staged a demonstration in front of BWSSB office on Friday demanding replacement of old leaky sewer lines in Bharathinagar area.
‘Work as a team’
The advisers to the Governor have directed the heads of civic agencies in Bangalore to work as a team to contain the spread of gastroenteritis, according to officers who attended a meeting on Thursday.
The directive was issued apparently because of lack of coordination among various agencies in sharing information and taking corrective steps, the officials told The Hindu.
The advisers – S. Krishna Kumar and P.P. Prabhu – asked heads of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike and Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board and Health and Family Welfare officials to coordinate in tackling the crisis.
Appalling conditions
The outbreak of gastroenteritis has brought into focus the appalling living conditions in Thimmiah Road, Seppings Road, Bharatinagar, and Nehrupuram as each family has at least one member down with gastroenteritis.
At No. 120 on Thimmiah Road, 55 people stay in a cluster of one-room houses. Of these, 20 are down with gastroenteritis. Among them are a six-month-old baby and five elderly people. The sewerage intersects the drinking water line connected to this cluster.
Bernarde living in thesame area said the stormwater drain by the side of the road was blocked and the drainage pipe had cracked. The leaking wastewater sometimes flowed through the cluster and submerged the drinking water line. This was a common feature in the area, she said.
A Vinod Kumar, a long-time resident of the area, the water lines were laid 50 years ago.
On Seppings Road, the people were queuing up at a roadside as they did not get water for the last four days. Since the outbreak of gastroenteritis the BBMP has made arrangements for supply of drinking water through tankers. The medical and social workers have advised the residents not to drink water supplied through taps in the affected areas."
Underpass: Major works completed The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News
The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Underpass: Major works completed: "The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike on Wednesday began giving finishing touches to the underpass being built at the Cauvery junction with a hope of opening it for public use by Sunday.
“All major works related to underpass have been completed. Now, we are in the last leg of the construction work,” K.S. Krishna Reddy, Chief Engineer (Major Roads), BBMP, said on Wednesday.
He was confident that the underpass would be ready for public use by the weekend. He made it clear that the underpass would be fully utilised when another underpass, proposed at the BDA office junction, becomes operational. Mr. Reddy said the workmen of Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) were working on shifting sewer and water lines at BDA junction and they were expected to complete it by the weekend. The BBMP will begin construction of the underpass at BDA junction as soon as the BWSSB completes its work. He said the underpass at BDA junction would be built using partially conventional construction method."
“All major works related to underpass have been completed. Now, we are in the last leg of the construction work,” K.S. Krishna Reddy, Chief Engineer (Major Roads), BBMP, said on Wednesday.
He was confident that the underpass would be ready for public use by the weekend. He made it clear that the underpass would be fully utilised when another underpass, proposed at the BDA office junction, becomes operational. Mr. Reddy said the workmen of Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) were working on shifting sewer and water lines at BDA junction and they were expected to complete it by the weekend. The BBMP will begin construction of the underpass at BDA junction as soon as the BWSSB completes its work. He said the underpass at BDA junction would be built using partially conventional construction method."
More people affected by water contamination in Bangalore - Udayavani
Udayavani - First look on Karnataka: "With 100 more people reporting ill, the number of those affected by water contamination in a city locality has risen to 600 on Wednesday as water supply authorities detected seepage of sewage in water pipelines.
'Except 38 inpatients, including 12 children, who have been diagnosed with gastroenteritis, the rest are suffering from diarrhoea and vomiting and are being treated as
outpatients,' sources in the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) Health Division said.
The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board said it has detected the seepage of sewage in water pipelines and separated the pipelines.
All the affected since Jan 27 were being treated at private nursing homes and government hospitals through 'help desks' where they are being given Oral Solutions (ORS), antibiotics and also intravenous fluids in some cases.
To make the people aware of precautionary measures, pamphlets in Kannada and English are also being circulated. BMP has also launched a door-to-door awareness programme in
the area by medical supervisors.
'Though we have asked the Public Health Institute where the water samples have been sent for testing, to expedite the report, we are still awaiting it,' Dr Gayathri Chief Medical Officer (CMO), BMP said."
'Except 38 inpatients, including 12 children, who have been diagnosed with gastroenteritis, the rest are suffering from diarrhoea and vomiting and are being treated as
outpatients,' sources in the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) Health Division said.
The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board said it has detected the seepage of sewage in water pipelines and separated the pipelines.
All the affected since Jan 27 were being treated at private nursing homes and government hospitals through 'help desks' where they are being given Oral Solutions (ORS), antibiotics and also intravenous fluids in some cases.
To make the people aware of precautionary measures, pamphlets in Kannada and English are also being circulated. BMP has also launched a door-to-door awareness programme in
the area by medical supervisors.
'Though we have asked the Public Health Institute where the water samples have been sent for testing, to expedite the report, we are still awaiting it,' Dr Gayathri Chief Medical Officer (CMO), BMP said."
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