Drawing additional Cauvery water within the framework of the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal award is the short term plan recommended by the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board’s (BWSSB) expert committee, appointed by the government to find solutions to the growing demand for water in the City.
The interim report, prepared in December 2011, states that 8.19 tmc (thousand million cubic feet), which is the shortfall up to 2021, or 10 tmc can be drawn out of the unallocated share of water available for the State.
The committee has recommended for the transfer of 8 tmc water from Konganahole and Kakkattuhole, which originates in Kodagu and joins Barapole River in Kerala, by cutting a small ridge at the cost of Rs 250 crore, allowing the water to flow into Lakshmana Teertha River, a tributary of Cauvery which joins at Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS), through which more water can be drawn for Bangalore.
Among the short term plans, the committee has also asked to issue orders to enforce dual piping system in all the layouts, making it compulsory for commercial establishments like hotels and apartment complexes to have separate pipes for drinking water and other purposes.
The panel calls for reducing the unaccounted for water (UFW) by pipeline replacement and to bring down the wastage percentage from 48 per cent to 16 per cent, saving nearly 200 MLD in the process.
Rejuvenation of the Arkavathy catchment area to restoration of the original supply of 180 MLD and increasing the capacity to 250 MLD is also part of the plan.
Long term plans
Among the long term plans, the committee has proposed to draw more water from Cauvery to an extent of 10 to 15 tmc within the framework of the Cauvery Tribunal Award, which includes a plan to construct a storage reservoir near Mekedaatu or any other suitable place, and to regulate supplies to Tamil Nadu from the proposed tail-end reservoir in the State.
The committee has also proposed to divert 10 tmc of water from Ettinahole and west-flowing tributary to Nethravathi to the City and then via Hemavathi at a cost of Rs 12,000 crore.
They have also proposed to remodel stormwater drains and to harvest rainwater in the existing and proposed lakes to recharge groundwater. The process may yield water up to 10 tmc, the panel has calculated.
Future proposals
Among the future plans, the committee has proposed drawing more water through diversion, that is nearly 30 tmc from west-flowing Netravati River to the City via Hemavati at a cost of Rs 55,000 crore.To meet the drinking water needs of all towns and villages, there are plans to draw water from Tungabhadra and Krishna River by designing a comprehensive scheme.
The recommendation on the interlinking of rivers proposed by the Centre’s National Water Development Authority (NWDA), includes inter-basin water transfer links to connect Mahanadi to Vaippar River under peninsular, diversion of west-flowing rivers to east and to link Krishna and Pennar Rivers that fall under the State.