Trial run of Cauvery IV stage project

BANGALORE: The  frequent dry days in many areas of the city might very soon come to an end as Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) is  planning to start the trial run of Cauvery IV Stage II Phase drinking water project by January 2012. According to  estimates, the city needs around 1,300 million litres of water per day (MLD) and the BWSSB is able to supply 900 MLD of water from the first four phases of Cauvery drinking water projects and the Thippagondanahalli reservoir. BWSSB Chairman PB Ramamurthy said, “Around 3,000 workers are working on the project and all the works are going on as planned. There is some delay in constructing the pumping stations at Torekadanahalli, Harohalli and Tataguni. According to our plans, at least some of the pumping stations should be ready by January. Therefore, we are planning to start the trial run by January.”The BWSSB has undertaken the project at a cost of around Rs3,400 crore with aid from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JAICA) and has issued tenders worth Rs1,600 crore. According to Ramamurthy, around 172 km of pipelines have been laid and the contractors are in the process of constructing six Ground Level Reservoirs (GLR) and pumping stations. Ten pumps with a capacity to pump 50 MLD would be installed in each of the three pumping stations - Torekadanahalli, Harohalli and Tataguni. Sources of Drinking Water ■ Cauvery I Stage   : 135 MLD■ Cauvery II Stage : 135 MLD ■ Cauvery III Stage : 270 MLD■ Cauvery IV Stage  : 270 MLDThe BWSSB is pumping 18 MLD from Thippagondanahalli reservoir though it has the capacity to pump 125 MLD due to scarcity of water in the reservoir. It is also pumping an additional 70 to 80 MLD from all the four pumping stations by running the pumps overtime. Therefore, the BWSSB is pumping around 900 MLD of water to the city though the city needs around 1,300 MLD.