Pic: A special general body meeting of the HDMC was held to discuss erratic drinking water supplyHubballi: The Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development and Finance Corporation (KUIDFC), the nodal agency implementing the 24/7 drinking water project in Hubballi-Dharwad, has assured the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) that it would provide drinking water once in 3 days by March 31.
The assurance came during a special general body meeting of the HDMC here on Tuesday to discuss erratic water supply and other issues related to water distribution.BJP corporators expressed anger during the meeting over the absence of KUIDFC chief engineers and urged that the meeting be postponed. After a short break, it was decided to continue the discussions.Presenting a brief report, KUIDFC superintending engineer Savita Katigennavar said Hubballi-Dharwad had the capacity to supply 222 MLD of water daily from two reservoirs, but daily demand stood at 245 MLD. She said action will be taken by March 31 to supply drinking water once in 3 days.Corporators expressed anger against KUIDFC and L&T company officials, alleging that they failed to address drinking water problems in the backdrop of summer and supplied water inadequately.Many corporators from old Hubballi, including Mohammed Iqbal Navalur, said people in twin cities complained that drinking water supplied in Old Hubballi was contaminated. Corporators urged that good-quality water should be supplied.BJP corporator Tippanna Majjagi said: “Earlier, the water supply was 160 MLD, and we got drinking water once in three days. Now, we get it once a week. The capacity of water increased to 202 MLD, but we are not getting drinking water. L&T is a company; they save as much as they want, but they are never a service sector,” he lashed out.Mayor Jyothi Patil said KUIDFC assured that drinking water will be provided once in 3 days by March 31. She said the remaining project date was extended till 2027, and most work under the project was completed, including installation of the pipeline and raw water from the dam. She said the 24×7 drinking water implementation was delayed due to Covid-19.HDMC commissioner Rudresh Gali, deputy mayor Santosh Chavan, and others were present.
