The Hindu : Karnataka / Mysore News : Mysore City Corporation favours Kabini project

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 11, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Mysore

Mysore City Corporation favours Kabini project

By Our Staff Correspondent

MYSORE, FEB. 10. Setting aside the Mysore Agenda Task Force's (MATF) reservations on the proposed Kabini drinking water project, the Mysore City Corporation (MCC) and its water supply wing, Vani Vilas Waterworks, have favoured the Rs. 45-crore project to meet the drinking water requirement of the new layouts coming up in the city.

Inevitable

The corporation Commissioner, A.B. Ibrahim, told The Hindu that southern and south-western parts of the city are developing fast and this has made the Kabini project inevitable. Many layouts are coming up in these parts.

"Instead of depending solely on Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) reservoir, we require alternative drinking water sources," he said.

Essential

While the KRS is 30 km away from these areas, Kabini reservoir is only 17 km away. "The project is not only viable, but also essential," the Commissioner said.

Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) has written to Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board (KUWSDB) on the need for a project to bring water from the Kabini reservoir to southern parts of Mysore where many layouts are coming up.

Meanwhile, the Executive Engineer of Vani Vilas Waterworks, Rangamaiah, said the Kabini reservoir can store 19.92 tmcft of water.

"The Kabini project envisages bringing 18 million gallons per day, which accounts for only 1.9 tmcft," he added.

Adequate water

Even if an estimated 6 tmcft is released from the reservoir to Bangalore and another 6 tmcft for irrigation, there will still be adequate water in it, engineers of Vani Vilas Waterworks said.

Their argument seeks to disprove the MATF's contention that the Kabini reservoir does not have sufficient storage for supply to Mysore.

`Baseless'

Mr Ibrahim said the MATF's Water Supply and Sanitary Working Group Convenor, Lakshmana's contention that the Kabini project is not feasible is "baseless."

Asked if the corporation has any difference of opinion with the MATF on the matter, Mr. Ibrahim said: "The subject has never been discussed in the MATF. Neither the Member-Secretary nor the MATF Chairman has authorised anyone to speak on any issue."

The KUWSDB, which feels that the Kabini project is viable, has been pursuing the matter, Mr. Ibrahim said. The clarifications of the Mysore City Corporation and Vani Vilas Waterworks on the Kabini project assume significance in the wake of the Minister of State for Labour, Tanvir Sait, echoing the views against the project.

At a recent presentation on "Water policy for Mysore" presented by Mr. Lakshmana, Mr. Sait favoured shelving the Kabini project.

Mr. Lakshmana's contention was supported by the Superintending Engineer of the Irrigation Department of the KRS, Srikanta, who suggested that the authorities pursue the second and third phases of Melapura scheme from the KRS reservoir to meet the drinking water requirement of the city. Presently, the city is receiving 42.5 million gallons per day from the Hongalli, Belagola and Melapura schemes. While Hongalli accounts for 20 MGD, Belagola supplies 11.5 MGD. Melapura, which is presently supplying 11 MGD, can supply an additional 22 MGD if the second and third phases of the project are implemented.

The engineers said the city will receive 80 MGD of water if the Kabini project and the second and third phases of the Melapura scheme are implemented. "This will be enough to meet the drinking water requirement of the city for the next 40 years," they added.

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