Urban News

Source : The Hindu Date : 22.06.2009

Mobile water testing lab to be commissioned

R. Vimal Kumar

Tirupur: The corporation will commission the Rs. 15.36-lakh multi-purpose mobile van for testing the quality of drinking water and to locate leaks in water supply lines on June 24.

The van, named ’Blue Brigade’ and embedded with modern gadgets like water leak detector and a water testing laboratory, among others, is undergoing last-minute modifications before it starts rolling through the city roads. City Engineer K. Gautaman told ‘The Hindu’ that the water testing laboratory would be equipped with accoutrements to measure the level of total dissolved solids (TDS), turbidity and hardness at different points of distribution.

“This is to ensure that the residents will have access to high quality drinking water even at the tail-ends of distribution as any increase in TDS and hardness levels beyond the permissible limits set by the Central Public Health and Environmental Engineering Organisation can lead to gastro intestinal problems and skin irritations,” he said.

Regarding the portable water leak locator in the van, Mr. Gautaman said that it would be useful to locate and pinpoint leaks in buried pipelines, which were otherwise difficult to trace with conventional leak detecting methods. “This instrument comprising variable sensitivity and volume control panels provides both visual and audible indications to detect leak points,” he said.

A salient feature of the leak detector is that its sensitive ground microphone picks up vibrations caused by water leaking from the pipe which are strong and normally in the frequency range of 100 to 800 Hz.

Source : The Hindu Date : 21.06.2009

Corporation warning on unauthorised parking fee

Special Correspondent

COIMBATORE: Commissioner of the Coimbatore Corporation Anshul Mishra has warned of stringent action against persons involved in unauthorised collection of parking fee in some areas in the city.

The Corporation said on Saturday the warning followed complaints of such collection on a street that connected Raja Street with Big Bazaar Street.

This stretch was a designated parking zone and it was allotted to contractors through auction for the collection of fee.

But, system was withdrawn and the fee abolished for this stretch following a request from traders to open it to traffic.

Complaints

Yet, there were complaints that some persons demanded a fee from people who parked their vehicles along this street.

A surprise check by the Corporation, however, did not result in such persons being caught.

The Commissioner said people need not pay a parking fee in this area and any unauthorised collection here or elsewhere in the city could be immediately brought to the notice of the Corporation.

Action

Mr. Mishra said the Corporation would initiate criminal action against persons demanding parking fee in such areas.