Haveri's 24x7 Water Supply Project Remains Incomplete After 12 Years and Rs 30 Crore Expenditure
Residents of Haveri city in Karnataka continue to face severe water shortages, with a promised 24x7 water supply project failing to materialize even after 12 years of implementation efforts. The project, initiated to provide round-the-clock tap water, has seen Rs 30 crore spent from a total budget of Rs 33 crore, yet has yielded minimal results for the community.
Repeated Extensions and Contractor Failures
The Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development and Finance Corporation (KUIDFC) and its contractors have been unable to complete the critical infrastructure project despite receiving 10 extensions over the past decade. In 2014, SPML Company from Haryana was awarded the contract, with work commencing in 2017. However, the company failed to meet deadlines and eventually sought legal intervention to avoid liquidity damage, receiving a total of 13 extensions until April 30, 2023.
An anonymous KUIDFC engineer revealed that while some progress was made—including laying 195 km of distribution pipelines against a target of 206 km and connecting 13,385 houses out of 16,385—the work has now halted completely. The company installed two 450 HP capacity machines in the Kancharagatti jackwell and constructed a 1.5 MLD water storage tank, but these efforts have not translated into functional water supply for residents.
Persistent Water Crisis Despite Adequate Resources
Ironically, Haveri has sufficient water sources, even during rainy seasons, but poor planning, inefficient management, and inadequate distribution systems have created a persistent crisis. The water shortage has been particularly severe during summer months, affecting daily life and highlighting governance failures.
Chandrappa, Project Director of DUDC, confirmed that the contractor approached the court, leading to legal proceedings that have now been cleared. The government has disbursed Rs 32 crore for the project, yet residents remain without reliable water access. Authorities have decided to call for fresh tenders to revive the 24x7 drinking water scheme, with actions against the previous contractor still under consideration.
Broader Implications for Urban Infrastructure
This case underscores significant challenges in urban infrastructure development in Karnataka:
- Accountability gaps in contractor performance and project oversight
- Financial mismanagement with substantial public funds yielding minimal public benefit
- Systemic inefficiencies in water resource management despite available sources
- Legal complications that delay critical public utility projects
The failure of Haveri's water project serves as a cautionary tale for similar initiatives across India, highlighting the need for better contractor selection, stricter deadline enforcement, and more effective resource management to ensure public funds translate into tangible community benefits.
