Karnataka government has decided to institute a probe into certain ‘’unilateral” decisions taken by the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) during the last five years bypassing the government, Minister for IT, BT and BWSSB Katta Subramanya Naidu said today.
“Under the rules the BWSSB has to seek the approval of the government for the works it initiates. However, the agency has taken up works violating rules. This will be enquired into and guilty punished,” Naidu told reporters here today. Quoting an instance, Naidu said the BWSSB spent Rs 4 crore on installing a water filter plant at the Thippagondanahalli reservoir, which supplies drinking water to one-third of the city, ‘’but the materials used are of sub-standard quality.’’
“There are several such instances in the last ten years. Initially we will bring those taken up in the last five years under the scanner. Later if need be all the decisions taken in the last 10 years would also be subjected to enquiry,” he said. Naidu said a decision to develop 278 tanks on 14,271 hectares of area situated in the city has been taken. Bangalore urban area has 72 tanks, 100 in Bangalore rural and 107 in Ramanagaram, he said.
There are 114 tanks under the Forest department in an areas of 6,623 hectares, Naidu said. Minor irrigation and revenue department have been directed to submit a report by this month-end on the extent of area of tanks encroached, he said. A legislation making rain harvesting compulsory in all buildings would be enacted in the next session, he said.
Water supply and sewage pipelines in all the wards in the Greater Bangalore City Corporation would be replaced at a cost of Rs 1,200 crore. The government will construct rain water harvesting units at Lal Bagh, Cubbon Park and Jayanagar. Chief minister B S Yeddyurappa will lay the foundation stone for these units during the first week of next month.