Bengaluru, 29 October

In a major decision to strengthen Bengaluru’s civic infrastructure, the Cabinet on Thursday approved a revised estimate of Rs. 1,494.70 crore to strengthen waste management across two municipal corporation areas under the Greater Bengaluru Authority over the next five years, Bengaluru Minister Krishna Byre Gowda said. 

The proposed interventions include scientific collection and disposal of solid waste, improved treatment and management of liquid waste, better systems for handling electronic and hazardous waste, and the safe disposal of construction debris and biomedical waste. The initiative aims to strengthen the City’s waste management infrastructure, improve cleanliness and minimise environmental problems arising from improper waste disposal.

GIS-BASED MASTER PLAN 

The Cabinet also approved Rs 16.60 crore for preparing a Geographic Information System (GIS)-based master plan for Bengaluru and its surrounding urban areas. The initiative aims to support scientific and integrated urban planning in response to rapid urban expansion, population growth and increasing pressure on infrastructure.

The project will involve collecting geographical data, studying road connectivity, urban expansion and land use, and preparing information required for urban planning and infrastructure development. It will also establish a long-term planning framework to guide development across designated planning areas.

WATER AND SEWAGE 

The Cabinet also approved two drinking water reservoirs in Bengaluru at a combined cost of over Rs 61 crore. A 50-million-litre-capacity reservoir will be built near Kaval Bairasandra in Pulakeshinagar at a cost of Rs 22.5 crore, while another reservoir in the Banashankari zone will be constructed for Rs 39 crore.

The projects aim to improve drinking water supply in the City, particularly in Pulakeshinagar, Banashankari, JP Nagar and surrounding areas.

The Cabinet also approved a sewage treatment plant with a capacity of 10 million litres per day at Kacharakanahalli in the Sarvagnanagar Assembly constituency at a cost of Rs 51 crore. The facility is intended to prevent untreated sewage from entering a lake and improve wastewater management in the area.