Separate water lines for industry

Industries in Mysore can heave a sigh of relief on water shortage when a separate line will bring them water from the Cauvery river. The Note Printing Press of the Reserve Bank of India (Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran) will among the beneficiaries.

Similarly, another separate line will ensure water supply for the RBI’s currency paper manufacturing plant, the first of its kind coming up in Mysore. Both the proposals are taken up by the Karnataka Urban Water Supply & Drainage Board (KUWS&DB), after its formal approval by the Mysore City Corporation (MCC).

Drawing a separate line to meet the requirements of the industries in Mysore was as old a proposal as made during the time of D.Devaraj Urs, when he was the chief minister. Visualising the future industrial growth of Mysore, he had proposed bringing raw water from the Cauvery, near Mysore, by a separate industry line.

However, many industrial units like J K Tyres, Falcon Tyres, Rare Materials Plant (RMP) face problem now whenever there is water shortage and water is diverted for agricultural purposes.

Presently, 10 MLD water is pumped daily from the Chikkadevaraya Canal at Belagola, where the Cauvery flows down from the Krishnarajasagar reservoir, and supplied to southern and northern industrial area and the Note Printing Press. From the same source, 50 MLD water is supplied to Mysore city for its drinking water requirements. In all, 60 MLD water is pumped from the canal.

However, frequent obstruction by Belgola and Palahalli achkat farmers at the lower level on the grouse of inadequate water for their crops often hampers water supply to industries, besides affecting drinking water supply to Mysore also, particularly during summer, said MCC Commissioner D.K.Raiker

Besides, the RBI is also setting up a separate unit for manufacturing paper required for printing currency notes in Mysore and the task of providing water to the plant is entrusted to the KUWS&DB by the state government.

Defending MCC’s administrative approval for laying pipes on lands coming within its jurisdiction under both the projects, in the background of opposition from some quarters, he said the schemes would not affect the drinking water supply position of Mysore. On the other hand, as it would reduce the pressure the position would improve.

The government was also committed to providing infrastructural facilities for industries. It had given an assurance at the investors’ meet also in this regard. As of now, not ensuring proper water supply to existing units was deterring entrepreneurs setting shop in Mysore, the commissioner said in a release.

The project for water supply to the RBI’s note paper manufacturing unit envisaged drawing water from one km below the Hongalli station at Krishnarajasagar and hence would not affect water being drawn at the source now.

The separate line for industries will draw water directly from the rirver by constructing headworks at Chikkadevaya Barrage, instead of drawing water from the Belagola Canal as of now, he said.