TAKING STOCK: The Bijapur MP, Basanagouda R. Patil Yatnal (right), inspecting the water purifying plant of Bijapur water supply scheme at Kolhar village in Basavanabagewadi taluk on Tuesday.

BIJAPUR: The former Union Minister of State for Railways and Bijapur MP, Basanagouda R. Patil Yatnal, who inspected the Bijapur city water supply scheme on Tuesday, urged the State Government to release Rs. 12 crores to streamline the water pumping from Kolhar pumphouse, 50 km from here.

Besides the Kolhar pumphouse, Mr. Yatnal visited the water purifying plant, Savanahalli pumphouse and toured entire breadth of the 50-km pipeline between Kolhar and Bijapur.

The Municipal Commissioner, C.K. Dashvant; the Assistant Executive Engineer of Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board, Vastrad, and other officials accompanied Mr. Yatnal.

The officials said that while Kolhar village has been allowed to draw water from the scheme, 12 villages other along the route have been tapping water from pipeline illegally.

It (unauthorised water tapping) is also allowed on humanitarian grounds. Besides, the pipeline has leakages at several points, especially between 25 km and 31 km stretch. they said that 37 million litres of water is being pumped every day but six to seven million litres is leaked or being illegally tapped .

The MP was informed about the erratic power supply, recurrent problems with regard to electric switching system and motors at the pumphouse.

Later talking to presspersons Mr. Yatnal favoured phasing out of unauthorised connections along the 50-km pipeline, but only after alternative water supply schemes are made.

He said Rs 12 crores is needed to strengthen the pipeline and take the pumping capacity of the scheme to its optimum level. The KUWSDB has sent a proposal in this regard, and the Government has to sanction it immediately, he said.

Mr. Yatnal criticised the announcement of the Minister for Animal Husbandry, Mirajuddin Patel, who is also district in-charge Minister, that Bijapur city will get water every alternate day by May-end, the deadline of which ended on Tuesday. People used to get water once in five days before Mr. Patel's announcement, and now they are getting water once in 10 days. The Minister should not give false promise without knowing the ground reality, he said.

He urged the authorities concerned to supply water once in four days. The gap should not stretch beyond that, he said.

Meanwhile, members of the city municipal council declared here today that they will launch dharna from June 7 if the authorities failed to restore water supply once in three days by then.

Addressing a press conference along with 15 other councillors, Vyasray Diwanji and Ashok Nyamgonda said some villagers have been tapping water illegally from main pipeline not only for drinking purpose but also for irrigation.

Criminal action should be initiated against those tapping water illegally, they said.

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