The Hindu : Karnataka News : Towns around Bangalore likely to get Krishna waters

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Sunday, Aug 17, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Towns around Bangalore likely to get Krishna waters

Special Correspondent

The plan is to bring water from Alamatti reservoir in Bagalkot district

Devanahalli, Anekal, Nelamangala, Hoskote, Magadi and Kolar stand to benefit
The project may cost around Rs. 10,000 crore

Bangalore: The Karnataka government is working on an ambitious plan to bring Krishna waters to places close to Bangalore, which are facing drinking water crisis.

The plan is to bring water from the Alamatti reservoir in Bagalkot district, which is 430 km from the State capital, to Devanahalli, Anekal, Nelamangala, Hoskote, Magadi and Kolar.

The Minister for Excise, Information Technology and Biotechnology, Katta Subramanya Naidu, who also holds the charge of Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), told presspersons on Saturday that it was a long-term plan to mitigate the drinking water problem in these areas, which were developing fast, owing to their proximity to Bangalore.

Mr. Naidu said Chennai was getting Krishna waters under the Telugu Ganga scheme, under an arrangement with Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra (each providing five tmcft of water). The Minister said the towns around Bangalore are expected to get 40 tmcft of water from the reservoir every year. If approved, the project might cost around Rs.10,000 crore and may be completed by 2011.

Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa would come out with details and make a formal announcement on the project shortly, Mr. Naidu said.

To a question whether the towns and villages on the project route would also get the water, the Minister said it was the bounden duty of the government to ensure water supply to all. He said that 20 reservoirs would be built at a cost of Rs. 200 crore in areas coming under the city municipal councils and one town municipal council, which were merged with the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to supply water to the residents. The Bangalore Development Authority and the BBMP have been asked to provide the land for the purpose.

Centre’s approval

The Union government had given in-principle approval to the Rs. 3,328-crore water supply project from Torekadinahalli (Cauvery) to the city.

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