An exposure visit of the functionaries of the Mulbagal Town Municipal corporation (TMC) was organised between April 7-10, 2010. This experiential learning programme was organised as a part of the Integrated Urban Water Management (IUWM) coordinated by Arghyam, Mulbagal TMC and Government of Karnataka.

The objective to this exposure visit was to study the best practices in urban water management implemented in Kundapura TMC and the solid waste management in Udipi TMC. These two urban local bodies have been recognised by the Department of Municipal Administration (DMA) and the Government of India as the best in the respective fields.

Under the IUWM emphasis is laid on strengthening the urban local body to enable participatory decision making. Arghyam is working with DMA, TMC, an NGO partner—MYRADA and self help groups (SHG) to activate the ward level sangha (ward level committees) and to mobilise the local community in taking active part in the city’s watsan development. A group of thirty comprising functionaries of TMC, SHG, ward level sangha and social mobilisation facilitators took part in this exposure visit cum experiential learning exercise. Arghyam staff also accompanied the group.

Field report

First destination: Udipi is a vibrant TMC with an area of about 68 Sqkms and a population of 13,500 located at a distance of 56 Kms from Mangalore. Divided in to 35 wards, the TMC has implemented an effective and sustainable solid waste management plan by involving Stree Shakti Groups with an informed community under Karnataka Urban Development and Coastal Environment Management plan (KUDCEMP) funded by the Asian Development Bank. The delegation reached Udipi on April 7 and held discussions with the Udipi TMC functionaries and thereafter undertook field visits to get a first hand feel of the different elements of the project. This involved understanding segregation of dry/wet, degradable/non-degradable wastes, collection mechanism, tariff systems and most importantly the functioning of the landfill facility.

Second destination: TMC Kundapura is known for its initiatives in water management. This TMC has been credited with reducing the non revenue water (NRW) significantly and achieving almost cent per cent metering of water supply. The Mulbagal TMC functionaries interacted with the chairman of the Kundapura TMC and others to understand how reforms were initiated. The financial provisions like a subsidy on the cost of connection and installation of meters, monitoring of the monthly bill collection and technical interventions that reduced the water consumption were discussed threadbare.

The TMC Mulbagal officials expressed hope that they will be able to use some of the lessons in the ongoing IUWM programme.