BENGALURU: The SMS alerts from the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) to consumers on water supply timings, which have become quite popular, will soon be extended to all Bengalureans who have BWSSB water connections.
The scheme presently covers 40 per cent of the consumers and has proven to be a huge hit with them. It has also helped BWSSB keep tabs on the working of valvemen, who play a crucial role in ensuring the efficient distribution of water.
Service Started With Tie-up
The SMS service was made possible through a tie-up with Next Drop Smart Water System Private Ltd.
The project, which began on a three-month pilot basis at Bandappa Gardens and Bhoopasandra wards in R T Nagar in January 2013 was later extended all across R T Nagar, informed Dr P N Ravindra, Executive Engineer, New Initiative and Public Outreach Division, BWSSB.
Thanks to a grant of Rs.80 lakh from Groupe Speciale Mobile Association (GSMA), the facility was provided to consumers in 12 sub-divisions of BWSSB which largely covered the core areas of BWSSB. The joint project was successfully completed in December 2014, he said.
The coverage of the remaining 60 per cent of the city, which will include all the newly-added areas to the BBMP, is slated to cost Rs.1.2 crore. “We will be calling for tenders for this shortly and work will commence in the financial year of 2015-16,” informed Narayana, Chief Engineer of New Initiative and New Water, BWSSB.
How it Works
By providing smartphones to valvemen and training them through Next Drop, BWSSB has made it mandatory for them to key in information on an Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS) run by its call centre. They also have to inform the call centre of the delay, the reasons for it and details of water leakages by keying in some code letters. The call centre staff will update consumers on the status.
A database of consumers in each area covered under the scheme was collected in advance and they were alerted about the status of water supply. Consumers also had an option of giving a missed call to BWSSB in case of any complaint and they got a callback from the centre.
The reasons were ascertained from the valvemen, water inspector and engineers attached to the sub-division. The consumer was called again by the call centre and informed about the steps to be taken for redressal of the issue.