Belagavi: The project to supply water 24 hours a day to 58 wards of Belagavi city and Cantonment area has not been completed for the last 14 years. The scheme, implemented in 2007-2008 in partnership with the central and state governments, has been completed only in 10 wards. Now, after 14 years, in Rani Chennamma Nagar, in the first phase, a campaign for 24×7 tap connections has been started and so far, 800 new tap connections have been established.
Citizens point out that due to the laxity of officials in getting clearance from the forest department and other reasons, the project, which was supposed to be completed by 2025, has been progressing at a snail’s pace.
The population of Belagavi city is estimated to be 5.5 lakhs, spread over a total residential area of 58 wards. Belagavi city is supplied with water from Rakkasakoppa Reservoir on Markandeya River in Belagavi taluk and Hidkal Reservoir built across Ghataprabha River in Hukkeri taluk. Out of 108 MLD of water supplied to 58 wards of Belagavi city and Cantonment areas, 54.5 MLD of water is being supplied from Hidkal Reservoir and the remaining water is supplied from Rakasakoppa Reservoir. The residential area of the city requires 75 MLD of water per day.
After 14 years of its implementation, the campaign for a 24×7 water connection has been started in Rani Chennamma Nagar in the first phase. Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development and Finance Corporation (KUIDFC) has come up with a water pipeline connection. Ravikumar, manager of L&T Belagavi said that many works related to the water supply scheme have been assigned to L&T. Under this scheme, a total of 87,000 tap connections should be provided. There are many obstacles to the implementation of the project, including the delay in getting permission from the forest department. It is estimated that 8,000 tap connections will be given this year and that it will take one more year to complete the project. Ashok Burakali, chief engineer of Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development and Finance Corporation (KUIDFC) said that in the first phase of the 24×7 drinking water scheme, work has been taken up in Rani Chennamma Nagar. “This pilot project will be fully operational after six months. By June 2025, the water connections to all houses will be completed,” he added.
