City may face water crisis by September
Inconsistent southwest monsoon, especially at the Cauvery catchment area, may lead to water scarcity in Bengaluru. BWSSB (Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board) sources say that the city’s water needs can be met only till September, due to poor inflow and plummeting water levels at the Krishnaraja Sagara (KRS) dam. This too would be possible only if the government does not release water into canals for irrigation.
Currently, KRS holds only 9.34 TMC of water, as against 30.12 TMC last year. Since Mysuru, Mandya and other areas too depend on KRS, water availability is limited.
BWSSB supplies about 145 crore litres of water to 9.75 lakh connections across Bengaluru everyday. The city faces water crisis mainly because of rapid urbanisation and overpopulation on account of its tech boom and employment opportunities. Experts suggest measures like rainwater harvesting and reusing treated wastewater, to deal with scarcity.
Source: Deccan Herald | LiveMint | The Hindu
New by-laws may check building violations, BBMP hopes
As multi-storeyed buildings are being built on small plots, especially in core city areas, the BBMP (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike) is counting on its new building by-laws to stop illegal constructions. Many buildings are being constructed close to each other without setbacks. Due to this, the structural flaw in one building affects nearby ones, and endangers lives.
Last Wednesday, five were killed when two adjacent buildings collapsed in Thomas Town, Pulakeshinagar. Four others were rescued from under the debris. One of the buildings was a four-year-old four-storeyed apartment, while the other was under construction. The apartment’s builder had permission to construct only three floors, but built an additional floor. G M Ravindra, BBMP Joint Commissioner (East), said that faulty design and weak foundation had led to the collapse. BBMP has filed an FIR against the builders, architects and owners of both buildings and sites.
The draft of the new building by-laws will soon be placed before the Standing Committee for Town Planning, and then before the BBMP Council. It will then be sent to the state government for final approval. The by-laws were last revised in 2003. The new by-laws are based on the model building by-laws notified by the state government in 2017 for all urban local bodies.
Source: The Hindu | Bangalore Mirror
Schools insist on Aadhaar
Many school managements in the city are forcing parents to submit their children’s Aadhaar numbers or Aadhaar enrolment IDs by July end. The managements have threatened to cancel admissions otherwise.
This is despite the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) stating that children should not be denied school admission for not submitting Aadhar cards. Nagasimha G Rao, Convenor of the advocacy group RTE Task Force, says that many parents were unable to get appointments to secure Aadhaar on time.
The Task Force plans to write to the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) and the Department of Public Instruction, to direct schools to be lenient.
Source: The Hindu
Jayadeva flyover demolition to begin
On July 15th, the first phase of Jayadeva flyover demolition will begin. The flyover is to be demolished to facilitate the construction of two new Metro lines – RV Road to Bommasandra, and Gottigere to Nagawara. BMRCL (Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd) plans to raze the entire flyover within three months.
In the first phase, a loop connecting Bannerghatta Road to Central Silk Board junction will be demolished, which would affect motorists travelling in this direction. The BMRCL and traffic police will close the service road along the loop and give access only to residents with properties along this road. Motorists can use the underpass in both directions as well as the main lanes of the flyover along Outer Ring Road, that connect Banashankari to Central Silk Board.
Source: The Hindu
[Compiled by Revathi Siva Kumar]
To survive the water crisis ban on construction by the real estate should be implemented as suggested by Dy CM.
The real estate people are objecting to this ban since they will lose their business and money.
Government should be bold enough to implement this ban
Also BMWS should attend to the leakages of pipelines where water is wasted.
This will save water and help to overcome water shortage.