Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation has categorically stated that the 24/7 drinking water scheme is being implemented by Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation (KUIDFC) in several cities of north Karnataka including some wards in Hubli ­Dharwad cities. Under these circumstances the corporation had no way except implement the scheme.

It may be mentioned here that there had been strong opposition from a section of general public for implementation of 24/7 project on the ground that water tariff would go high and everything would be managed by foreign companies.

The agitating public disrupted two meetings held in Dharwad last week demanding that they did not want this scheme at any cost and they were ready to get drinking water once in three days from water board. As a result, the meetings convened by the corporation to convince the public had proved futile.

HDMC Commissioner P Manivannan told Deccan Herald that the corporation did not have any role in this scheme except choosing the ward and everything was being managed and monitored by KUIDFC with the financial assistance of the World Bank.

However, the corporation was ready to take those who had been opposing the project in the committee and try to convince them by providing all necessary documents. "This project will be implemented in most transparent way and anybody is free to come and see documents pertaining to the scheme. At any cost this scheme could not be scuttled and KUID FC will go ahead with the scheme purely in the interest of citizens" .