Siddaramaiah government to give free water Bhagya to Dalit colonies
- Proposal submitted to the government to supply free water to Dalit Colonies.
- 32,510 houses to supply free water amounting to 10,000 litres every month.
- Of the 32,510 connections 7,600 are illegal, around Rs 3.88 crores needed to fix meters.
- Dalit colonies owe to the BWSSB total to Rs 12.94 crores pending bills for water.
- The State Government has to decide whether to waive it like it did for slums earlier.
FollowThe BWSSB has submitted an ambitious project of supplying free water to Dalit colonies. According to a survey conducted by the BWSSB officials a total of 32,510 new water connections are identified in Dalit colonies. Supplying water to these taps will cost the State Rs 48.12 lakhs. If the State Government approves the proposal free water will be supplied to Dalit colonies, reported Kannada Prabha.
The State Government is already supplying free water to 70,997 connections at slums, costing Rs 1.05 crores to the State. Added to that free water to Dalit colonies will take the amount to Rs 1.53 crores every month.
The BWSSB officials have identified 32,510 houses to supply free water amounting to 10,000 litres every month. The idea was mooted by the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah when he inaugurated the free water scheme for slums.
He had suggested to the BWSSB to look into it. Accordingly a survey was conducted and a report submitted by the BWSSB officials. The survey was based on the RR number as the evaluating factor. Of the total 32,510 connections 7,600 are illegal. To fix meters to these will cost around Rs 3.88 crores. After the State Government takes a decision with regard to fixing meters, further action will be taken said BWSSB chief engineer Kempa Ramaiah.
The 32,510 water connections at the Dalit colonies owe to the BWSSB a sum of Rs 8.03 crores plus interest of Rs 4.91 crores taking the total to Rs 12.94 crores. The State Government has to decide whether to waive it or otherwise. Earlier the government had waived a balance of Rs 24 crores plus interest of Rs 16 crores totaling Rs 40 crores from the slums and decided to provide free water to slums. Will the same be repeated for Dalit colonies?
