The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : NICE: BWSSB defends refusal to shift water line

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Tuesday, Jan 15, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

NICE: BWSSB defends refusal to shift water line

Staff Reporter

Says it will disrupt water supply to Bangalore in a big way

NICE wants water lines at four places
to be shifted
BWSSB says it will affect northern
and western areas

BANGALORE: The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) on Monday defended before the Karnataka High Court its decision not to permit Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE) to shift water and sewerage lines in four locations in Bangalore, saying that any such move would affect water supply and sanitation in several areas.

The BWSSB made this statement in an affidavit filed after NICE had petitioned the High Court against the delay by the board in shifting water and sanitary lines.

NICE said it had entered into a framework agreement (FWA) with the State Government on April 3, 1997 for implementing the expressway road project between Bangalore and Mysore. On August 9, 2002, a tripartite agreement was signed between the State and the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor Project (BMICP) for going ahead with the project.

It said, on December 27, 2006 it had written to the Chief Engineer (M), BWSSB, stating that water pipelines had to be shifted at four locations in Bangalore to enable it to complete the expressway.

It said it wanted the 1,625 mm diameter MS transmission water line at Uttarahalli-Kengeri Junction at Chennasandra crossing, 600 MM diameter water line at the Interconnection Loop Road towards Electronics City, the 225 mm diameter sanitary pipeline at Panterpalya, parallel to the BDA Road and the 600 mm diameter water supply line near PES College to be shifted.

NICE said it had written several times to the BWSSB to permit it to shift the lines to enable it to complete the project.

Amount deposited

It said it had deposited Rs. 77.10 lakh with the BWSSB towards shifting of these utility lines.

It said once the project was completed, the lines would be reconnected.

It said the water board had not taken any action to shift the utilities. It said the shifting of the lines was necessary for it to complete the project.

Opposing the petition, the BWSSB said the water lines could not be shifted as they were essential for providing water to residents of western and northern parts of Bangalore and to several establishments such as the Indian Air Force (IAF) station near Yelahanka, Border Security Force (BSF) headquarters in Yelahanka and the International Airport (BIAL) which is coming up at Devanahalli.

It said the 1625 mm diameter water line at Uttarahalli transmitted water to the city and that it ran from Tataguni to Hegganahalli.

This, it said, was the main water supply line to areas coming in the west and north of Bangalore and any disruption would cause hardship to the citizens.

Similarly, water to residents of Banashankari 3rd Stage was being fed by the 600 mm diameter line and, therefore, this line too could not be shifted.

The board said after it had taken a technical opinion, it had decided not to go ahead with the shifting of the water and sanitary lines.

Justice Ashok B. Hinchigeri adjourned further hearing on the petition and adjourned further hearing on the case for final disposal on January 21.

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