BELLARY: The Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board (KUWSDB) has shifted its sub-division-I office from Bellary to Koppal, where a new sub-division has been created.

The sub-division, since its inception in 1974, has been looking after the maintenance of the Allipur and Moka reservoirs as well as the supply of bulk drinking water to Bellary city.

In an order, dated November 30, 2006, the KUWSDB had stated that the office of the sub-division would be shifted, along with its staff (numbering about 33), to the newly created sub-division in Koppal, with immediate effect.

All the works that had been looked after by Bellary sub-division-I would be transferred to Bellary sub-division-II, it said (sub-division-II has been looking after the maintenance of the underground drainage system in Bellary city).

Except for an assistant engineer and a junior engineer, the remaining 31 staff members, including two assistant engineers, have been shifted to Koppal. The Koppal sub-division will look after the drinking water and drainage projects in Gangavati, Koppal and Yelburga in Koppal district.

Sub-division-I has been facing a shortage of staff, and only 69 (34 task workers and 35 permanent employees) have been working at the two reservoirs, as against the required number of 102. Sources said the shifting of all the experienced staff from here would make the situation worse. Also, things would become more difficult for the limited staff at sub-division-II to look after both the water supply and drainage systems, they added. When contacted by The Hindu, Executive Engineer of KUWSDB, Bellary, S.N. Dinesh admitted that sub-division-I had been shifted to Koppal. However, he did not agree that the move would affect the maintenance and supply of drinking water to the city. "The sub-division-I office is being shifted along with a few staff.

The remaining staff, who would be looking after the maintenance of the two drinking water reservoirs and bulk supply, would be merged with Bellary sub-division-II. They would continue to work here and the supply of drinking water would remain unaffected," he said.

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