MYSORE: The Government has promised to release Rs. 5.5 crores needed to replace the outdated electricity pumps that pump drinking water here.

This was stated by Secretary to the Department of Urban Development Subhash Chandra at a meeting of senior officials of the Mysore City Corporation (MCC), Vani Vilas Water Works (VVWW) and the elected representatives at the office of the Deputy Commissioner here recently.

Protest

The meeting was held in the wake of a protest by activists of the Association of Concerned and Informed Citizens of Mysore in front of Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh's residence in Bangalore last month.

During the meeting, Mr. Chandra asked corporation Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim to divide the 65 wards among various officials of Vani Vilas Water Works and hold the person appointed responsible for deficiency in drinking water supply. He directed the Deputy Commissioner to hold review meetings once in a fortnight on the drinking water supply.

Direction

He directed the Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board (KUWSDB) to coordinate with VVWW and map all drinking water pipelines in the city within 45 days.

His direction came after MLC Made Gowda noted that officials of Vani Vilas Water Works are not aware where the pipes and valves are and mapping of the water supply system is urgently needed. Mr. Chandra told Mr. Ibrahim to pursue with the Government the Melapura second stage drinking water scheme and assured to support the corporation in securing clearance for the project.

He asked the corporation to write to the Centre for financial help for improving the drinking water supply system.

Scheme

Under the National Urban Water Scheme, the Centre pays 90 per cent of the cost of any water supply scheme if local bodies can finance the remaining cost, he said.

Convenor of the Mysore Agenda Task Force's (MATF) Working Group on Water Supply and Sanitary Group Lakshmana, however, sounded pessimistic over the outcome of the meeting.

"Given the lukewarm response of the officials concerned to the proceedings of the meeting, it remains to be seen if it will produce any lasting results," he said in a statement.

Mr. Lakshmana expressed unhappiness over the delay of one month in holding the meeting, which was of utmost importance to the residents.

Though a letter from the Secretary to the Chief Minister R. Siddappa was written on September 12 to Mr. Chandra to hold a meeting, "it was held after delay of one month," Mr. Lakshmana said.

Significantly, the meeting was held just a day prior to Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh's arrival in Mysore on October 12 on the eve of Vijayadashami procession.

During the meeting, MLA Somashekar said he has visited the office of Vani Vilas Water Works several times but is unable to solve the drinking water problem in his constituency.

Meetings

The former Mayor Dakshina Murthy said fortnightly meetings between the officials of Vani Vilas Water Works, Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation and the Irrigation Department are necessary to iron out the problems in the drinking water supply.

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