The Indian Express            03.08.2013

27 samples of shallow water fail purity test

The proposal of the Municipal Corporation to make use of shallow water for the purpose of drinking seems to be headed towards failure. Reason: As many as 27 samples of shallow water collected from different places for testing were found unfit for human consumption. A total of 38 samples were to be tested.

With 9 million gallons daily (MGD) of water that is at present being used by Chandigarh to be diverted to Panchkula and Chandimandir by next summer, the city is likely to face scarcity of water. Keeping this in view, it was proposed that water from the shallow aquifers be tested to see whether it could be used for drinking purpose. At present, the water from shallow tubewells is being used for irrigating gardens and greenbelts.

Samples that were collected from these tubewells in different sectors could not pass the test of purity. Bacterial matter was found in the samples. Superintending Engineer (Public Health) R C Diwan says, "The samples have failed the test. The water is not fit for human consumption. We plan to get these tested by another authority to get a second opinion."

Chandigarh has no source of generation of water and is largely dependent for water supply on the Kajauli Water Works. With Chandigarh's proposal for augmentation of water supply being in the lurch due to the refusal of the Punjab government to release water, alternative sources of water are being explored.

Chandigarh receives 87 mgd water. Of this, 67 is canal water and the remaining is from tubewells. The civic body has recently approved a proposal to install 45 tubewells in different sectors. Concern was raised over the depleting groundwater level in the deep aquifers. In contrast, the city has adequate reserves of water in the shallow aquifers.

The tubewells that were installed in southern sectors over a period of time have not been found to be very successful. These tubewells start emitting sand faster than those installed in northern sectors. That is another reason that it was decided to explore the quality of water from the tubewells that were already installed. The samples were tested in the laboratory of the Municipal Corporation.

Keeping in view the likely scarcity, emphasis is now being laid on preventing wastage of water. It is proposed that measures be taken to reduce the wastage from 22 per cent at present to around 5 per cent.

The Hindu             01.08.2013

Rs. 25,250-cr. annual plan for Chhattisgarh granted

The Planning Commission has granted a Plan size of Rs. 25,250 crore for Chhattisgarh. The decision came after Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh met on Wednesday in New Delhi.

The outlay includes Central assistance to the State Plan of about Rs. 2,574 crore. In addition, an amount of nearly Rs. 6,000 crore is likely to flow from the Centre to Chhattisgarh through various Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS). More specifically, plan funding from the Central government to Chhattisgarh, from all sources, is expected to be over Rs. 8,574 crore during 2013-14.

Mr. Ahluwalia praised the State for following the policy of inclusive development with focus on private participation in infrastructure development. Appreciating improvement in the human development index, he pointed out that health indicators have shown substantial improvement but deterioration in child sex ratio was a matter of concern.

Mr. Singh reiterated Chhattisgarh’s need for greater flexibility in implementing the CSS as each State was different and had diverse requirements. He highlighted the fact that Chhattisgarh was a tribal State, sparsely populated and therefore requiring “flexibility in funding and much more relaxed norms.”

Recently, the Planning Commission restructured the CSS to provide greater flexibility to State governments for proper implementation. Ten per cent of the outlay of the schemes was to be kept as flexi-funds.

“Due to the strict embargo on environmental clearances, several projects get stuck. They need greater flexibility especially due to the large forest area in Chhattisgarh,” said Sayeda Hameed, Member, Planning Commission.

Mr. Singh asserted that during 12th Plan period the State would be following a policy of faster and more inclusive growth with a 10 per cent growth target. To improve business regulatory environment, the State investment promotion board had been constituted. This would facilitate early sanction of projects. A single window clearance system had been put in place and a monitoring committee set up to coordinate and review progress of statutory clearances.

Additionally, the need for concerted efforts required to improve the literacy rate and eliminate gender and social gap in school enrolment by the end of Twelfth Five Year Plan was discussed in detail. According to Census (2011) data, the gender gap in literacy in Chhattisgarh was nearly 21 per cent.

It was suggested that convergence with Integrated Child Development Scheme should be encouraged to address the problems of malnutrition.