Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB/SP)
Udupi, Aug 21: Executive engineer of Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development and Finance Corporation, Ramakrishnaiah, said that the work of setting up water purification plant relating to supply of water to the city will begin immediately after the process of acquiring land for the project at Halady in Kundapur taluk is concluded. This purification plant will meet water requirement of the city from River Varahi.
He was speaking at the Bailoor ward level public consultation meeting organized on Tuesday August 20 at Ammanni Ramanna Shetty Mini Hall here on the issue of 24 x 7 drinking water supply scheme for the city and other works by the said corporation under the Karnataka Integrated Urban Water Management Investment Programme (KIUWMIP) Branch 2.
"A decision to house the water purification plant of the water supply scheme, total project cost of which is Rs 339 crore, relating to the project at Halady instead of Baje has already been taken. For this purpose, three sites have been identified in Halady and discussion was held with the deputy commissioner of the district during this week on the issue of acquiring the land that costs the least," he stated.
Ramakrishnaiah explained that the purification plant costing Rs 67 lac would pump 41 MLD water to the city. He added that villages on the path of the pipeline from Halady to Udupi would be provided water based on their requirements. Metres would be installed for the villages, and the bills will be collected by the city municipality, he explained.
"35 wards in the city have been divided in 17 divisions on the basis of elevation and low-lying areas. These wards already have ten overhead tanks, and new tanks would be built at several spots including Bailoor ward. The distribution network of the project is spread over 371 km," he stated. He also said that the project has been envisaged by taking into account water requirement of the city in the year 2046 when the population is expected to reach 1.95 lac. "Already survey has been conducted in connection with this project through house to house visits, and those who get contract for the works will be responsible for its maintenance for six months since the date of completion, and tender conditions have been included to this affect," he said.
City municipal councillor from Bailoor ward, Ramesh Kanchan, said that currently, water is being provided to Bailoor ward from Ajjarkad and Indiranagar tanks, which has been creating problems. He therefore requested water to be supplied to the entire ward from the tank that is proposed to be built here. He said that this is the dream project of Pramod Madhwaraj, adding that a tank with a capacity of six lac litres is already available, and if Varahi water flows into the city, that would provide permanent solution to water woes.He asked people of the city make judicious use of this opportunity.
On this occasion, Ramakrishnaiah suggested for taking punitive action against those who waste purified water by using for watering the gardens. He noted that a minimum of Rs 14 is spent for purification of 100 litres of water and suggested to use this water for only drinking purpose, cooking, and to take bath. He said that use of this water for garden, farms, washing of vehicles etc results in wastage of water. Therefore, he asked the city municipal council to study the average water requirement of family and impose heavy charges for families which use water in excess. He felt that the council can take a decision to this affect.
Municipal junior engineers, Ashwini Prashanth and Rajashekhar, as well as dignitaries including Indu Ramanand Bhat were present.