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Public Health / Sanitation

Sewage plant may be set up on GCDA land

Monday, 09 November 2009 02:28 administrator
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The Hindu 09.11.2009

Sewage plant may be set up on GCDA land

Staff Reporter

Plant to have treatment capacity of 23 million litres a day

 

Final decision on land on November 18

The plant may become operational in 12 months

KOCHI: The deadlock over the allocation of land for a sewage treatment plant at West Kochi may soon end paving way for the setting up of the plant.

The Kochi corporation had earlier identified a property owned by the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) at Mundamveli, West Kochi, for the project. However, the GCDA was reportedly not in favour of giving the land to the civic body. According to indications, a consensus has been reached at the government level for setting up the plant there without divesting the ownership of the land from the GCDA.

The government is toying with the idea of allotting the required land to the Kochi Corporation on lease or some similar schemes, civic authorities said. It would require around five hectares for setting up the plant.

The proposed sewage treatment plant at West Kochi will have an installed capacity of treating 23 million litres a day.

The plant has been designed to cater to the needs of the central city and the West Kochi areas. Presently, only a few areas in the city are covered by the sewage treatment system. A final decision on the land for the project is expected to be taken at the meeting of the State-level empowered committee scheduled for November 18 for clearing the projects. The announcement regarding the land is expected to be made after the expiry of the model code of conduct which is in force following the Ernakulam bypoll.

The plant will be installed with the support of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission and the Kerala Sustainable Urban Development Project (KSUDP).

On its part, the KSUDP and the Kochi Corporation are moving ahead with the plant project and have examined the technical bid submitted by various agencies for establishing it. The financial bids submitted by the qualified agencies will be opened after the expiry of the code of conduct, authorities said.

If the work progresses as scheduled, the plant would become operational in 12 months time.

The work of developing a network of pipelines carrying sewage to the proposed plant from various parts of the city is also progressing. The laying of pipelines is being done in a phased manner, authorities said.

Last Updated on Monday, 09 November 2009 02:30
 

Call to change approach to waste disposal management

Monday, 09 November 2009 02:26 administrator
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The Hindu 09.11.2009

Call to change approach to waste disposal management

Special Correspondent

Workshop lays stress on environmental monitoring

Thiruvananthapuram: A two-day workshop on Environment and Human Development organised by the Environment Management Agency, Kerala (EMAK) and the Kerala State Pollution Control Board earlier this week has recommended the use of alternative technology for treating municipal garbage and waste water.

The workshop, aimed at sensitising local self-government institutions to new technologies, stressed the need for focussing on minimisation, segregation and treatment of waste. Participants highlighted the importance of environmental monitoring. Soil biotechnology was suggested as an eco-friendly alternative to conventional waste management.

The discussions focussed on the link between the state of the environment and health hazards. Experts called on local bodies to adopt a community-based system for monitoring vector control dynamics. They suggested that initiatives like the Kudumbasree network could be used for the purpose.They also suggested common facilities like land fills and treatment plants for colonies.

Chief Secretary Neela Gangadharan inaugurated the workshop. In a paper presented at the workshop, Hariharan S.Shankar, professor, IIT, Mumbai, said soil biotechnology offered a green option of treating water.

Purifying waste water

The patented system, he said, was based on a biological conversion process using micro and macro organisms for purification of waste water generated by households and industries. The system could be used to purify drinking water and the water used in swimming pools, rainwater harvesting mechanisms and waste water.

Last Updated on Monday, 09 November 2009 02:28
 

Do it with a touch of glass, says BBMP

Saturday, 07 November 2009 11:04 administrator
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The New Indian Express 07.11.2009

Do it with a touch of glass, says BBMP

Faiza Haneef

BANGALORE: The BBMP has decided to crack the whip on slaughter houses and hotels that do not adhere to prescribed norms. The palike has given them a week’s deadline to implement the rules in place or get ready for a closure.

The decision of the BBMP was aimed to prevent frequent outbreak of diseases like chikungunya, dengue, cholera and malaria.

BBMP health officials will go round their localities and issue notices to those found not complying with orders. The palike has come out with a set of standard guidelines for slaughterhouses and hotels, particularly the darshinis.

The rules include putting up glass walls, providing toilets, water purifiers, disposal of organic waste among others.

Two months ago, the BBMP had made it mandatory for chicken, fish, mutton and pork stalls to have glass walls to avoid dust, and flies to settle on the food stuff.

The directions also include that these shops should dispose waste in the BBMP garbage vehicles only and not anywhere around the locality. The waste will have to be given to the palike vehicles which will go round every day.

For the restaurants, darshinis, mess and other refreshments centres, it is mandatory to have two or at least one toilet and also a mechanical water purifier.

“Though the directions were issued a few months ago, it was not seriously taken by them. But now, health officials including officers and inspectors will go round their respective localities and survey the shops that have not followed the directions.

“Notices will be issued to them and if they fail to take action within seven days, they will face the consequence,” said a senior BBMP health official. “However, we have already started survey and issuing notices,” added the official.

With the increase in outbreak of diseases and menace of stray dogs, the slaughterhouse must abide by these rule and maintain cleanliness in and around the shops.

The same must be followed by fast food centres and mess that are mushrooming in street corners. Fast food centres often compromise on cleanliness. They do not provide safe drinking water and sanitation facilities. Therefore, it is must for them to have a toilet and mechanical purifiers for safe drinking water, informed the official.

A weekly report on this would be reviewed by the BBMP additional health commissioner every Tuesday. The health officials have been warned about sudden surprise visits by the commissioner himself.

Last Updated on Saturday, 07 November 2009 11:19
 
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