City corporation commissioner A B Ibrahim put the finger on it when he observed that the current water crisis in Mysore has much to with the power politics that is being played out, keeping in view the coming corporation election (due next year). He couldn't have been more candid. And refreshingly so, one might add. Mr Ibrahim is reported to have told corporators at a council meeting that 'would-be's' in politics were playing havoc with water supply distribtuion. Wastage was widespread. Municipal engineers were aware of it, but unable to act, because of 'neta' pressure. As Mr Ibrahim put it, there was no shortage at the water source. Nor was there a problem in respect of funds and power supply to keep the water flowing through pipes. The crisis, then, is concocted. "With the help of some water supply men the would-be leaders play politics," says Mr Ibrahim, "and though assistant executive engineers know about it, they are unable to do anything".
What the corporation commissioner left unsaid was that there was widespread lack of public concern about water wastage; and our couldn't-care-less attitude to misuse of water. Here is a case where the likes of Mr Ibrahim in city corporation need public support in their effort to improve water supply, despite the poll-time activists and their 'netagiri'. Everyone needs water. And no one drinks politics
Muda is commited to contributing Rs.6 crores to the Rs.20-crore Kabini scheme; and Rs 4 crores to the Melapura water works (second stage) , Muda chief P K Pandey told media (April 4, 2005),
There are over 35,000 illegal water connections, according to Akhila Bharata Grahaka Parishat. Its general secretary M N Suryanarayana is quoted in Deccan Herald (April 8, 2005) as alleging that the city corporation has done nothing to regularise such connections by imposing penal levy.
How could they, Mr Suryanarayana, unless the city corporation finds out the culprits ? The parishat could take the initiative by launching a campaign to mobilise public opinion encouraging people to report illegal connections to the authorities. Identifying wrong-doers and reporting them to the city corporation must be taken up as an on-going excercise by NGOs. Only then we can hope to put an end to such irregularities that arise from corruption, collusion and zero-vigilance.
Accodring to the city corporation commissioner A B Ibrahim, monthly water tariff has been raised from Rs.45 to Rs.60 as per the covernment order issued in 1996.
The municipal water is supplied at a highly subsidised rate. It costs the city corporation Rs.10 for 1000 litres, while it charged residents just Rs.2. The corporation has to replay a loan of Rs.55 crores it got from the Asian development Bank for improvement of water supply system. It has also spent Rs.26 crores on extension of water supply in the city and Rs.15 crores, to upgrade the system.
Work on the Rs.12.6-crore Melapura stage II water supply scheme is expected to be taken up later this year, according to city mayor Dakshinamurthy. It was not scheuled to be taken up for some years. But the city corporation appears hopeful of funding the scheme throuigh recovery of long overdue water bills from chronic defaulters. They owe Rs.37 crores, of which interest alone accounts for Rs.20 crores.
The corporation proposes to waive the interest, if the defaulters clear the basic dues without further delay. That the corporation allowed water bills to build up so much speaks for its lack of effective safeguards against non-payment of municipal dues. The proposed interest waiver, far from promoting prompt payment, has the effect of rewarding defaulters.The older the arrears, higher the interest component, and hence, greater the interest waiver benefits.
Corporation commissioner A B Ibrahim says (May 3, 2005) there is no need for anyone to press the panic button as the available KRS water (74 ft. level) can see the Mysore water supply situation through for four months. Accusing MATF of making false claims regarding drinkability the commissioner held that drinking water samples tested at CFTRI and SJCE have confirmed that it is safe and drinkable. It was MATF that caused needless panic among people.
