A public body-monitored PPP project is the best bet for mismanaged urban water utilities
PRASHANT GOYAL
Urban water projects under public-private partnerships (PPP) evoke strong sentiments that hinge on scepticism and fear of privatisation. How far is this apprehension justified? The three key stakeholders for a water utility are consumers, employees and government.
Dust levels have gone up in mixed urban pockets
Bangalore: Residential and commercial areas are more polluted than industrial areas in the City, which has the highest levels of both air and noise pollution.
According to a study by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), dust levels with chemical and toxic emissions have gone up in mixed urban areas (which have both commercial and
Hubli: The Karnatak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has urged the New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) management to take up the issue of the new Hubli-Ankola railway line with the Union Government as it would benefit both.
The State Government has taken up survey of land with modern equipment in Bellary, Mysore, Hubli, Dharwad and Shimoga districts on a pilot basis. The survey would rectify the anomalies in land records.
The Karnataka Government has decided to extend the 24x7 water supply scheme from a few select wards to the entire city corporations of Hubli-Dharwad, Belgaum and Gulbarga.
Residents who do not pay water bills may have supply cut off people living in Hubli have one more identity card now in addition to voter cards, pan cards and other cards. The water supply board is issuing tap cards to residents of the Karnataka city to ensure they pay water bills on time. The cards were introduced in the first week of March to improve revenue collections.
