Karnataka govt moves to plug high water leakage in B'lore

Minister for Urban Development and Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), S Suresh Kumar, told reporters here the firm has already taken up the project in Chamarajpet, Basavanagudi, Jayanagar and Padmanabhanagara.

It has been asked to submit a report in one-and-half years time period.

Water leakage, including by way of illegal connections, in the city is estimated to be in the range of 35-40 per cent, and the government's intention is to bring it down to 20 per cent.

Based on the report's recommendations, the government would take measures to stem such leakage, that would in turn enable it to provide drinking water to more households.

Kumar, also Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, said the Union Planning Commission has asked Chicago University to study the 'Sakala' scheme of Karnataka and submit a report.

Sakala is a flagship programme of the state government providing time-bound delivery of government services to citizens.

Meanwhile, the minister said the state government would put forth its position on the Cauvery water sharing row when Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa meets her Karnataka counterpart Jagadish Shettar on Thursday.

The meeting comes as a follow up to the Supreme Court's directive suggesting both the Chief Ministers to meet and arrive at an amicable solution.

If the meeting is successful, it would actually be a model for similar water sharing disputes in other parts of the country, Kumar hoped.