BENGALURU: Ending the long delay in implementation of the project to carry treated sewage water of Bengaluru to fill the irrigation tanks in neighbouring districts, the state cabinet on Wednesday cleared the decks for work to start on three sewage treatment plants (STPs) that would cost Rs 1,662 crore.
The treated water from these STPs would be carried to fill tanks in the drought-prone Chikkaballapur, Kolar and Bengaluru Rural districts. The STPs would have a cumulative capacity to treat 600 million litres per day (MLD) of sewage water.
These STPs would process the sewage flowing through Koramangala-Challaghatta valley, Hebbal-Nagavara valley and Vrishabhavati valley, Law and Parliamentary Affairs minister T B Jayachandra said.
The cabinet cleared a proposal for signing an agreement between Karnataka Tourism Department and BMRCL to promote tourism. Sign boards and advertisements would be put up at metro stations and it would cost Rs 37.38 crore. It is aimed at creating awareness about tourist spots in the state.
Asked about the role Namma Metro would play in the venture, BMRCL Managing Director Pradeep Singh Kharola said, “By using the marketing opportunities available at Metro stations, BMRCL and the Department of Tourism would jointly promote tourism in Karnataka.”
Status quo on lake, Gomala lands
The cabinet has given approval for handing over to Bangalore Development Authority a total of 379.22 acres comprising tank bed, gomala and government lands in Arkavathi and Nadaprabhu Kempe Gowda Layouts for maintaining status-quo of lands.
The BDA cannot use these lands for developing housing sites. The BDA would maintain/develop tank-bed area and lakes by roping private partners, if required, Jayachnadra said. An official-level committee headed by the Chief Secretary of the state has been constituted to get lands belonging to the Defence ministry for infrastructure projects in the city.