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Water Supply

Ball set rolling for water project

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Times of India 27.07.2009

Ball set rolling for water project

HUBLI: The foundation stone for the much-awaited III phase of Malaprabha project was laid on Saturday. The project, taken up at a cost of Rs 152 crore, involves laying of parallel water line, improving the distribution network designed to double up the availability of water from 16 million gallon litres of water a day (MLD) to 32 MLD.

Assembly Speaker Jagadeesh Shettar launched the works at a ceremony on Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation premises here. Under the project, the water will be drawn from Malaprabha river by laying 1,168-mm pipeline for a 30-km stretch from Savadatti to Amminabhavi. The project also involves a 68 MLD treatment plant at Amminabhavi.

Shettar said the work, once completed within a year, will give a new direction to the development of the twin-cities. Residents can hope to get water once in at least two days from the existing once in four to five days.

He said Hubli-Dharwad was known for negative aspects like water crisis, chocked drains and bad roads all these days. But now, with a lot of funds flowing in from different quarters, the cities are set for an image makeover, he said.

Stating that HDMC stands first in the state in utilizing Rs 100-crore special grant given to corporations, he thanked corporators and other people's representatives for staying united for development.

He claimed the legislators of the twin-cities are making efforts to make Hubli-Dharwad an ideal place to live. "Public works minister C M Udasi has promised to get the cabinet approval for the four-lane road between Hubli and Dharwad cities. Sports minister Gulihatti Chandrashekar has announced Rs 50 lakh for the upgradation of Nehru Grounds in Hubli," he claimed.

Land for bypass road

MP Prahlad Joshi announced that the railway ministry has given approval for the construction of railway underpass on Hubli-Gadag state highway. The railways will sanction Rs 4.5 crore for the purpose while the remaining cost will be borne by the state government.

District minister Murugesh asked the corporators to bring to the notice of the concerned authority about substandard works.

The foundation stone for the renovated HDMC-run Chitaguppi Hospital was also laid on the occasion. Mayor Veeranna Savadi said the maternity hospital will be a 100-bed hospital with four wards, two labour rooms, OPD and other facilities.
 

Excess ground water seepage threatens Jodhpur

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Times of India 25.07.2009

Excess ground water seepage threatens Jodhpur

JODHPUR: While elsewhere in the state the ground water level is falling fast, Jodhpur faces a problem of plenty. The ground water level here, especially in the city areas, has been on the rise and now seepage has become a grave problem for the ground water
department.

Facing a mounting challenge to deal with this excess water, Harit Rajasthan, offers a solution that can not only take care of the surplus water but also change the way the city looks.

The focus is on the city gardens, which include both the public gardens like Mandore, Umaid and Nehru gardens and others in various parts of the city, which unfortunately are in shambles for various reasons.

Divisional commissioner, J P Chandelia says, "We have taken up the issue and work on Mandore garden has already started with the help of Public Works Department (PWD). The Mohalla Vikas Samities' have also been encouraged to take charge of gardens in their respective localities with no dearth of
water."

Taking it further, some advocate more focused steps like planting water-absorbing plants and setting up of tube wells in the gardens. Updesh Karan Mathur, chief engineer, Ground Water Department, says, "Water-absorbing and fast-growing plants like Eucalyptus can be planted thickly around the city, especially in the localities where the ground water is too much. Besides, water supply to the gardens should also be increased not only to maintain them properly but to develop them further."

In addition to this talk of making operational the existing fountains in the city which are running dry and installing more such fountains across the city are being considered. The idea has potential though it can add financial burden to the civic bodies, which are facing financial crunch.

The administration is looking at multi-dimensional efforts to resolve the crisis and make most of the opportunity that the Go Green campaign offers. Efforts are on to extract water through pumps from 60 identified points and utilizing it for productive purpose.

"With the mission like this around, what else can be a better productive use of this abundance of water," says Chandelia, whose top priority is to use this water as a catalyst in this ongoing plantation drive across the city.

The authorities are also searching and encouraging users from private and government sector who can optimise the use of this abundant supply. At present, the BSF has been taking this water in the range of 1 lakh to 2 lakh litres, which is expected to be increased up to 5 lakh litres soon. Following their example the army and railways have also shown interest.
 

Water pipelines to be replaced in Chitradurga

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The Hindu 25.07.2009

Water pipelines to be replaced in Chitradurga

Staff Correspondent


District administration to spend Rs. 2 crore on the project

Silver ion disinfection system to be installed for water purification


Chitradurga: Chitradurga city will soon have new water pipelines with the district administration and the City Municipal Council (CMC) deciding to replace the old pipelines in order to provide clean and uninterrupted drinking water supply.

The district administration plans to spend nearly Rs. 2 crore on replacing the nearly 30-year-old water pipelines.

The decision was taken following repeated complaints of seepage of water and broken pipes. It was discussed during the recent special meeting convened by Deputy Commissioner Amlan Aditya Biswas. Several CMC members also participated in the discussions.

Mr. Biswas said the district administration and the CMC would pool funds from different schemes to complete the project. “We will spend Rs. 1.8 crore from the Chief Minister’s special package for the development of small and medium towns, around Rs. 45 lakh given by the Karnataka State Finance Corporation and Rs. 27 lakh from funds earmarked for the Karnataka Municipal Reforms Programme,” he said.

He said a silver ion disinfection system would be installed for the purification of water. The system, he said, had been tested and was working well in Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu.

“Since chlorination is considered dangerous and has been banned in various developed nations owing to its adverse impact on human health, we wish to adopt a better and more hygienic water purification method,” Mr. Biswas said. The Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board (KUWSDB) had been asked to implement the project. Mr. Biswas said water supply to the city would be augmented using excess water from the Shanti Sagar dam.

When asked what was being done on the underground drainage system, he said survey work was just completed. The project was in its initial stages and might require at least Rs. 80 crore.

Last Updated on Saturday, 25 July 2009 06:23
 


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