BANGALORE: The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) owes Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) around Rs 240 crore for the year 2009- 2010. The Board wrote a letter to BBMP in May asking them to settle dues, but there is no response yet.According to a source in BWWSSB, they were asked to maintain public stand posts in the city. They raised yearly bills till 2005, but the corporation has not paid them back. As per their accounts, for the financial year 2009-2010, the maintenance money, still in arrears, amounts to Rs 148.75 crore.BWSSB also supplies water connections and sanitation facilities to BBMP schools, community centres, malls and commercial buildings.According to the source, Rs 8.3 crore is still overdue in this case.In 2002, BWSSB was asked to provide water supply and sanitation facilities to 27 new wards in the city, at the cost of Rs 184 crore.BBMP has paid close to Rs 156 crore. Even though the actual expenditure crossed an estimate of Rs 200 crore, BWSSB still awaits the remainder of Rs 28 crore from the civic body.The corporation also owes Rs 56 crore for shifting pipelines on roads where it plans to undertake the construction of underpasses, flyovers and work related to the widening of roads.Will this money help BWSSB?Despite reports of fund crunch in BWSSB, the source confirmed that there is no shortage of funds for current projects. A report by CRISIL which estimates the cost of future BWSSB projects at Rs 11,029 crore.In comparison, a meagre amount of Rs 184 crore may not make a difference but according to the source, it would enhance the debt bearing capacity and increase the creditworthiness of the organisation.The current challenge faced by BWSSB is with its P2 project, also known as the Cauvery Project IV Stage Phase II. Allegedly providing quality and pressure in water supply to the growing population is the major challenge.The board is looking at obtaining funds from Japan and other sources.BBMP’s responseWhen asked about the bill that BBMP has dues to settle, S Harish, Deputy Mayor, said that BWSSB is yet to pay road cutting charges.Khandre, Public Relations Officer, BBMP, acknowledged the receipt of the letter from the BWSSB and confirmed that the water board owes zone wise road cutting charges across the city. He said that in the south zone alone, the amount could be estimated approximately at Rs 18 crore. The assistant engineer in the east zone estimated BWSSB’s dues may be around Rs 4-5 crore.However, BBMP officials argued they follow a rigorous accounting system and these road cutting dues have not been reported.
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