24x7 Water Supply Plan in Pipeline for MCC

Pics by Savitha B R

Mangalore, May 19 (DHNS): The Crisil Infrastructure Advisory Ltd presented report on the preliminary study on the implementation of 24X7 water supply in MCC limits at MCC hall here on Wednesday. Presenting the report, the official from the Crisil Infrastructure said that the 24X7 water supply project may cost Rs 137.42 crore.

To implement 24X7 water supply, the operator will have to provide new connection in the new area, replace the existing meters, create assets for 24x7 water supply, create a geo technical data based of the city and regularise the illegal water connections in the city limits.

Options

Giving out the options for project funding, he said under Viability Gap Funding scheme (VGF), the centre may give 20 per cent of the project cost, while the remaining must be borne by the MCC and the private operator.

In the second option, he said the MCC will have to bear Rs 22 crore and the rest by the operator. However, the MCC will have to give operational grant of Rs two crore every year. In the third option, there will be neither funding from the MCC nor from the Centre.

It will be funded by the private operator.

Tariff

According to an estimate of the report, the domestic tariff for the urban BPL families who consume 0-8 kilo litre water will be only Rs 48 per month as against the present tariff of Rs 64.5.

The tariff for those who consume 8 kl to 25 kl will be Rs 116 per month whereas at present the tariff is Rs 64.5. The persons who utilise more than 40 kl, will have to shell out  Rs 806. To implement 24X7 water supply, the MCC should have metering policy, public stand post policy, the report said.

During the presentation, former mayor Shanker Bhat said “it is better to outsource the water supply system. If we wait for the fund from the central government, the project will be delayed. However, while outsourcing, the tariff fixation right should be in the hands of the MCC.”

Engineer Maninarayana said “with the 24X7 water supply, the operator will maintain the existing assets of the MCC. However, tender documentation should be prepared carefully by the MCC.”

Commissioner Dr K N Vijayaprakash said that a core committee with technical experts, consultants, executive engineers will be formed to finalise the tender document. This is only a preliminary study report.  Earlier, the Commissioner said that 160 MLD water is being  pumped daily from Thumbay.

The MCC limits has 2,500 km water pipeline. Under ADB project 650 km additional pipelines has been laid in the city. Still many parts of the city does not get water round the clock.

The Crisil Infrastructure Advisory Ltd prepared the study from India Infrastructure Project Development Fund under Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development and Finance Corporation (KUIDFC).

Mayor Praveen presided over the meeting.