The Governor was speaking at the inauguration of a Rs 110 crore drinking water supply project taken up by the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) in the City. Mr Thakur, however, did not give any assurances.

The Sakrama scheme has come under criticism, and several citizens’ groups have staged protests condemning it. Some of them have even petitioned the Governor, urging him to put the scheme on hold. At the function, former legislator A Krishnappa also submitted a memorandum to Mr Thakur opposing the scheme at the function.

The Governor said that the JNNURM aims to upgrade basic amenities in some selected cities, including Bangalore and Mysore. While implementing the mission, officials need to ensure that the urban poor get the maximum benefit of it, he added.

The BWSSB has plans to augment Cauvery drinking water supply to Bangalore. “Though plans are on to pump an additional 500 million litres of water per day, it is not likely to fulfil the need for water,” he said. He added that the BWSSB should, work towards recycling waste water and even make it potable in coming days, and citizens should adopt rainwater harvesting techniques.

Principal Secretary to Urban Development Department, K Jyothiramalingam, said  the Centre has sanctioned  45 different projects, worth Rs 2,604 crore under JNNURM. The State Government’s contribution is around Rs 446 crore.