The Hindu Business Line : 24x7 water supply in more wards of 3 Karnataka cities

“A good water supply source, efficient supply network and effective leakage control system are essential for the implementation of the 24x7 water supply system.”

Our Bureau

Mangalore, Nov. 11 The Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development and Finance Corporation (KUIDFC) - which has implemented 24x7 water supply system in select wards of Hubli-Dharwad, Gulbarga and Belgaum city corporations – plans to extend the system to other wards in these cities, according to Mr Aravind Srivastav, Managing Director of KUIDFC.

Making a presentation on 24x7 water supply system to the members of the Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) council here on Wednesday, Mr Srivastav said that plans are being made for expanding the system in these cities.

Water leakage is the least in the three city corporation limits where the system has been introduced on a pilot basis. Water leakage was about 7 per cent in these areas compared to 35 per cent in Bangalore, he said.

Started in January 2008, the system benefits nearly 1.25 lakh people in the three city corporation limits.

KUIDFC, which has taken up various urban infrastructure development projects under the Karnataka Urban Development and Coastal Environment Management Project (KUDCEMP) in 10 coastal towns , wants to implement the system in these towns also. To begin with, Mangalore, Puttur, Ullal, Udupi and Kundapur will be considered. A quick study has already been done , and the detailed study will be completed within three months, he said.

A good water supply source, efficient supply network and effective leakage control system are essential for the implementation of the 24x7 water supply system, he said.

Mr Srivastav said that at a time when KUIDFC is creating assets through investments, it is essential to maintain the assets thus created. However, maintenance was not a part of some of the earlier projects taken up by KUIDFC.

A decision has been taken now to include both asset creation and maintenance in the detailed project reports of the new works taken up in northern Karnataka districts, he added.