BENGALURU: Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) on Monday set the ball rolling for its Master Plan 2016-2050 when it began joint preparations with a Singapore-based firm.
Officials of the firm contracted with the job, CH2M Hill (Singapore branch) were in the city in connection with a two-day preliminary discussion on ‘Water Supply, Sewage and Asset Management Plan 2050.’
Chief Engineer (Kaveri), BWSSB, S Krishnappa told Express that the previous Master Plan, which was supposed to last until 2025, had become redundant as it was readied before the expansion of the city corporation.
With a grant from the Australian government through the Australian Aid Agency for International Development (Ausaid), the Bangalore Water Supply and Environmental Sanitation Master Plan was prepared in 2003 at a cost of `20 crore. However, it took into account only 525 sq km, the existing area of the city then.
“The creation of the BBMP and the subsequent increase in area to 712 sq km (specified as the accurate figure through Global Information Systems mapping undertaken recently) has made us go in for another Master Plan that will be relevant to the city’s actual dimensions as on date,” he said.
CH2M was handed over a `11-crore contract for the Master Plan in May 2015. “The final plan needs to be submitted within 14 months as per the conditions stipulated in it,” the Chief Engineer said.
Top BWSSB officials conveyed a broad outline of the Board’s expectations from the plan to the Singaporean officials on Monday and will meet them on Tuesday also. After some headway is made, public opinion would also be sought, he added.
According to a top BWSSB official the thrust of the plan would be assess the city’s population by 2050 and its water requirements during that period.
“We are looking at putting in place the water and sewerage infrastructure during that time. That by itself would be a very big challenge for us,” he added.
Making non-potable water fit for drinking purposes and rain-water harvesting are among other details that will be incorporated into the Master Plan.