Pvt firm keen to process salt water for drinking purpose, says minister

Urban Development Minister R Roshan Baig on Saturday said preparations are being made to take up a project to process salt water and supply it to people to meet drinking water shortage, on a pilot basis.

The project will be taken up under public-private- participation on the lines of Chennai city in the neighbouring Tamil Nadu. The Tamil Nadu government has incorporated the system where salt water is being processed by a Spain firm in partnership with an Indian firm. The same water is being supplied to a part of Chennai city besides industries, he said.

A private company has evinced interest in taking up the task in Mangaluru. The company that will be entrusted with the task will invest on processing unit with the state not feeling the pinch of investment, he said.

The charges will be fixed according to domestic and industrial consumption, continuing with the existing system. Baig said the project is not just restricted to Mangaluru city, as plans are afoot to supply treated water to Sakleshpur in neighbouring Hassan district too.

In the later days, same water will be used to cater to drinking water needs of Bengaluru by supplying water from the pipeline of Yettinahole project.

The minister also directed City Corporation Commissioner Mohammed Nazeer to submit a proposal to replace existing street lamps with LED bulbs.

It is essential to take measures to check burgeoning electricity bills. “With LED bulbs, the city corporation alone can save Rs 6 crore against Rs 11 crore annual electricity bills,” he said.

When some corporators brought it to the notice of the minister that Antony Waste Handling Cell Private Limited that is entrusted with the task of collection and disposal of waste has failed to an extent,  the minister directed the officials to focus on tapping alternative energy utilising solid waste.

Baig directed the officials to expedite works for early completion of modern abbattoir. Besides submitting a proposal to deputy commissioner to reserve lands for burial grounds of Hindu, Muslim and Christian communities. The construction of houses for pourakarmikas under Gruha Bhagya scheme should be completed on time, he suggested.

Mayor K Harinath requested the minister to take measures to sanction more funds to the city corporation. Vacant posts should be filled, he said and urged the minister to check the financial burden due to implementation of equal pay for all.

The mayor also requested the minister to clear hurdles related to construction of houses on single sites.

Mangaluru North MLA B A Mohiuddin Bawa, Mangaluru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) Chairman K Suresh Ballal were present.