BWSSB calls for integrated authority to treat water

BENGALURU: BWSSB chairman Tushar Girinath on Thursday said a unified and an integrated authority is the need of the hour to ensure sustainable and equitable distribution of water in the city.

Participating in a panel discussion organized by Citizen Matters, in collaboration with Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, he said “since Bellandur and Varthur lakes are major indicators of city’s sewage health covering around 40% of our geography of the city all our energy is concentrated on ensuring that both these lakes are properly rejuvenated.”

 In the process, BWSSB is planning to pump around 150mlt of sewage to the newly constructed STP at K&C valley.

With respect to appropriate drain connection system, Tushar highlighted, “The bigger challenge is the people’s apathy towards drains and manholes. Manholes and drains are considered as dumping yards. It is in response to this negligence that BWSSB has initiated the rehabilitation move where major lines carrying drains are being relaid.”

He said manholes should be approached the same way as a water tap, thereby stressing on the need for willingness on the part of citizens to maintain the good health of the drain network. Regarding the status of ground water, Tushar affirmed, “Ground water should ultimately come under the authority of BWSSB.”

A proper tariff structure should be introduced to regulate the extraction of ground water. All borewells should be monitored, metered and be the property of BWSSB. In the long-run, he said tankers in the city should be owned by BWSSB.

About incentivizing role, Meera, co-founder of Citizen Matters said “STPs in apartments generally work well because the law states that water should be reused and it cannot be wasted. This rule actually ensures that private STPs can work well.”

“If apartments and housing complexes start treating sewage properly, then the loads can be balanced. We expect around 15-20% of the loads to be treated in the private sector STPs,” Tushar said.

To ensure sustainable and judicious water usage, Tushar suggested the emergence of treated water market, in the near future.