The Hindu                 30.05.2013

GHMC looks at a good haul of rainwater this year

While the first shower of the season drenched a scorched city, the GHMC has once again appealed to the citizens, residential welfare associations, voluntary agencies and educational institutions to avail themselves of its help to set up rain water harvesting (RWH) structures.

Mayor Mohd. Majid Hussain and GHMC Commissioner M.T. Krishna Babu told presspersons on Wednesday that the Municipal Corporation would bear 50 per cent of the cost of RWHs in apartment blocks and individual buildings.

Respective residential colony welfare associations and voluntary agencies can also approach the Deputy Commissioner or the Executive Engineer of the municipal circle concerned for setting up RWHs in parks and public places.

Collection sources

“The GHMC will provide technical expertise for the structures and reimburse half the cost upon inspection of the same. Each RWH costs between Rs.10,000-Rs.15,000 and the DCs/EEs have been given powers to take up such structures worth Rs.50,000 each,” they said.

Anything costing more will have to be referred to the head office.

Requisitions for RWHs can also be made through the 24/7 call centre – 155304/23302440 and also online – ghmc.gov.in. Sanctions will be given in 15 days.

The target is 10,000 RWHs this year at a cost of Rs. 6 crore and thus far, 2,571 have been built at Rs. 3.1 crore.

The Commissioner pointed out that roof-tops of apartments and buildings are good collection sources for rain water.

“Channelising the water into RWHs will help replenish the depleted groundwater,” he said.

Mr. Krishna Babu pointed out while it was safe to source groundwater up to depths of 300 ft-400 ft, in many areas the ground water had plummeted to 1,000 ft.

“Water sourced from extreme depths may not be potable unless tested as it may contain metals,” he said.

“Alarm bells about depleting ground water are ringing and everyone has to be conscious of it. We will take up construction of RWHs on a campaign mode. We have already requested the Government to make them compulsory for buildings coming up in less than 300 square yards also,” he said.

He hailed the initiative of the University of Hyderabad (UoH) for assisting in taking up RWHs in 32 colonies like Gulmohur, Vasantnagar and other areas.

The Hindu                 30.05.2013

How green is the plan?

Staff Reporter

Though the Thiruvananthapuram master plan promises to create a network of green belts and zones, it does not have concrete measures to intensify greening. This was among the list of objections raised against the draft of the master plan that was put up for public scrutiny at the workshop arranged by the city Corporation here on Tuesday.

R. Sridhar, programme director of Thanal, an environment research organisation based in the city, said that the document had neglected climate change. Riby Rachel Mathew, town planning specialist with Rajiv Awas Yojana, pointed out the contradiction between plans to maintain Akkulam as a green stretch and to establish a multi-mobility hub there. Proposals that suggested intensive development along the Vizhinjam-Thiruvallam stretch may harm local people, most of whom relied on traditional means of livelihood such as fishing, she said. The master plan envisages outward growth from the city core, and the creation of new ‘growth centres,’ including one at Vizhinjam.

Lack of clarity was another grouse among residents. Officials of the Town Planning Department said that specific project proposals would come later.

Objections

Objections can be raised until June 6, after which the Town Planning Department will incorporate suggestions and come up with a final version of the plan. A translated Malayalam document will also be released shortly.