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Water Supply

60 girls fall ill after drinking contaminated water

Tuesday, 05 January 2010 10:12 administrator
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Deccan Herald 05.01.2010

60 girls fall ill after drinking contaminated water
Bijapur, Jan 4, DH News Service:

Nearly 60 girls residing in a hostel fell ill after consuming contaminated tap water on Monday.
  

The girls who complained of vomiting and dysentery were rushed to the district hospital. About 20 girls were discharged from the hospital after treatment while another 40 are still undergoing treatment.

Similar cases were reported from different localities of the town. Residents of Hamal Colony, Gandhinagar, Station Back Road and Shikarkhan also reported similar symptoms.

When contacted, District Health Officer Dr H R Hiregowder, who was in Bangalore, confirmed to Deccan Herald that the cases were due to consumption of contaminated water. A team of doctors were sent to various localities in ambulances to reduce the pressure on the hospital.

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner R Shantaraj visited the government hospital and supervised the treatment being provided.

He directed the hospital authorities to ensure that there would be no negligence in treating the girls.

Activists of Akhila Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishat (ABVP), who met the deputy commissioner at the hospital, submitted a memorandum alleging that the girls took ill due to food poisoning and demanded action against the warden.

The deputy commissioner then ordered the district Backward Classes and Minority Officer to conduct an enquiry into the matter and submit a report immediately.

Out of danger

District hospital doctor R Y Bellubbi said the girls were recovering and all of them were out of danger.

When asked if it was a case of food poisoning, he clarified that it was due to consumption of contaminated water.

Sources close to the deputy commissioner office informed that the deputy commissioner had ordered for an enquiry about contaminated water being supplied by the City Municipal Council.
 

Deadline for water meters’ installation may be extended

Wednesday, 30 December 2009 05:08 administrator
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The Hindu 30.12.2009

Deadline for water meters’ installation may be extended

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: With the demand for water meters having far exceeded their availability, the Delhi Jal Board is likely to give consumers more time to install meters at their premises.

Earlier, the Jal Board had asked consumers to install meters approved by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) at their premises by December 31 this year, but a severe shortage of meters has resulted in complaints from consumers. “We are yet to take a final decision on the issue, but taking note of the consumer complaints about the shortage of meters, it is likely that more time will be given to consumers to carry out the work,” said a Jal Board official.

The Jal Board is contemplating giving the consumers “at least two more months” to install the meters, he added.

Earlier this year the Jal Board had issued a notice to all consumers to change their defective meters and install functional meters approved by BIS.

Residents have been asked to purchase the multi-jet meters and get them installed, following which the Jal Board would register the meters. “Once consumers install the meter, they need to write to the zonal revenue officer and send a copy of the meter testing report and the warranty card along with the letter. The Jal Board will then proceed to register the meter and dispatch bills according to the actual reading,” said the official. The Jal Board wants to discontinue the practice of charging the consumers at presumptive consumption. “For consumers whose meters are not functional (defective) we charge at the average rate of 20 or 30 kilo litres per month. However, with the losses mounting, the Jal Board now wants to charge consumers on the actual consumption basis. As per the recently announced tariff revision consumers who consume more will pay more; therefore, it makes sense for all consumers to have accurate meters,” the official explained.

The Jal Board has also cautioned that consumers who do not get meters installed at their premises by the due date will be penalised. “There is a fair chance that if a consumer does not install the meter and does not pay up, the Jal Board can disconnect their water supply.”

Last Updated on Wednesday, 30 December 2009 05:09
 

Water Board to get its pound of flesh

Tuesday, 29 December 2009 09:16 administrator
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The New Indian Express 29.12.2009

Water Board to get its pound of flesh

S Bachan Jeet Singh


THE Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC)’s loss is going to be the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB)’s gain.

Thanks to an order issued recently, the cash-strapped GHMC has to share Rs 125 crore to Rs 140 crore annually with the water board. It has to remit 25 percent of the property tax collected to the HMWSSB.

In order to facilitate smooth transfer of funds, GHMC Commsisioner MT Krishna Babu, who is also the MD of HMWS&SB, has issued a circular directing all the tax-collection officials to deposit the GHMC property tax collections only in GHMC-Property Tax Escrow account opened recently.

The State Government in July this year issued a GO ordering levy of water tax at the rate of 7.5 percent by proportionately reducing other property tax components so as to keep the overall rate of property tax at 17 percent, 19 percent, 22 percent and 30 percent of the Annual Rental Value (ARV) slabs of Rs 601-1,200, Rs 1,201-2,400, Rs 2,401-3,600 and Rs 3,601 and above respectively. Accordingly, the necessary reallocation of components of property tax has been done.

A GHMC-Property Tax Escrow Account has been opened in the State Bank of Hyderabad, Municipal Complex, Tank Bund Branch where all the tax collections should be deposited. Standing instructions to the bank to set apart 21.25 percent of the collections in a calendar month, after deducting collection charges, are being issued. The remaining amount will be transferred to the GHMC-General Fund.

The Water Board has been facing a regular monitory deficit due to insufficient funds. In view of huge power charges and interest and principle payments on borrowings, the Board is being constrained to divert capital receipts from the Government of India and the State Government, seriously affecting the progress of capital works.

In order to overcome this situation, the HMWSSB has sought levy of water tax as a component of property tax and transfer of the collections to it.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 29 December 2009 09:18
 
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