Water promise runs dry: KUIDFC yet to deliver 3-day supply cycle

Pic: Water treatment plant constructed at Aminabhavi, DharwadHubballi: Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development and Finance Corporation (KUIDFC), acting as the nodal agency for the 24/7 drinking water project, assured to supply drinking water once in 3 days for residents of twin cities by March 31.The assurance was tabled in a special general body meeting of the HDMC in Feb. To meet the demand to supply water once in 3 days, KUIDFC said it required 43 MLD of additional water from Malaprabha River. Presently, the cities get 200 MLD (million litres per day) from the Malaprabha River and 20 MLD from Neersagar 2. Residents of the twin cities are questioning whether it is possible for KUIDFC to supply water once in 3 days by March 31.A water purification unit was set up in Amminabhavi village. A 29.5 km pipeline from Savadatti to the unit and a 17.9 km pipeline from the unit to Rayapura water tank were installed. According to KUIDFC, there are 82 wards in the city, of which 13 wards have 24x7 water supply, and 25 wards are getting daily water supply. The rest are getting water supply once in 3 days in 8 wards, once in 4 days in 9 wards, 5 days in 8 wards, 6 days in 9 wards, and 7 days in 10 wards. However, some wards do not get water sometimes for 9-10 days. The authority cites power problems and urgent maintenance work.Savita Katigennavar, superintending engineer, KUIDFC, told TOI that the pipeline work from Aminabhavi to Rayapur water tank was completed recently. "A 29.5-km pipeline has been installed from Savadatti to Amminabavi and a 17.9-km pipeline from Amminabavi to Rayapur water tank. Now the water is flowing to the 4.3 ML tank. Slowly, water will be supplied area-wise, and we can see improvement by the first week of April. Households in twin cities will get water once in 3 days in the next 10-15 days," she informed.Basavaraj Yaragatti, a resident of Hubballi, said that every summer, residents are assured that they will get drinking water once in every 3-4 days, while some wards are not getting water even after 8-10 days. "KUIDFC has assured that water will be supplied by March 31 and we are waiting for that to happen. Actually, by now, we should have received 24/7 water in all wards, but the authority has failed to implement the project," he added.