Urban News

The Business Line 16.07.2009

30% water supply cuts will stay despite incessant rains

Our Bureau

Mumbai, July 15 The rains over the last three days have been the best piece of news to Mumbaikars. The levels at Modak Sagar, Tansa and Tulsi have risen by 25 to 74 per cent but this is still not adequate, according to a senior official of Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM). As a result, the water supply cuts will continue.

“The lake levels are still far from satisfactory but the rainfall in the last 72 hours has brought some relief. However, we will not alter the 30 per cent water supply cut which is already in place. We will consider revising this decision only when levels in the lakes rise to 50 per cent,” said Mr S.S. Korlekar, Chief Hydraulic Engineer, MCGM. The issue here is that the lakes have only received 30-40 per cent of the rainfall over the last three days.

According to data supplied by the hydraulic department, the level at Modak Sagar has reached 149.96 metres (which is only 6.70 metres above the lowest drawable level of 143.26 metres) while the full supply level is 163.15 metres. The recent rains have helped raise the useful contents by 25 per cent at 34,330 million litres, while on Sunday the level was 27,519 million litres. Tansa lake level has reached 120.07 metres, which is merely 1.20 metres above lowest drawable level of 118.87 metres. The full supply level is 128.63 metres. In the last three days, useful water content in the lake has risen by 74 per cent at 13,278 million litres from 7,652 million litres.

Tulsi lake level has reached 134.97 metres, which is 3.90 metres above lowest drawable level of 131.07 metres. The full supply level is 139.17 metres. In the last three days, the useful water content in the lake has risen by 43 per cent at 3,179 million litres from 2,217 million litres.

The Hindu 14.07.2009

GVMC plans 24X7 water supply with new schemes

G.V. Prasada Sarma

VISAKHAPATNAM: The two water schemes for which Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy laid foundation on Sunday are aimed at 24X7 supply to the northeast zone of the central part of the city and the One Town areas of the city.

As many as 37,000 new household connections in the central part and 12,000 in the One Town area will be given, besides the existing ones. Works will be awarded on Engineering, Procurement and Construction after a re-survey.

The actual work is likely to begin between three and six months from now.

“The Old Town project is scheduled for completion in one and a half years and the one meant for the central part in two years. As of now, tenders have been called and the technical bids are under evaluation,” Superintendent Engineer (Water Supply) V. Chandrayya told The Hindu on Monday.

Instead of the water supply at stipulated timings the corporation would shift to round-the-clock supply once the schemes were completed.

The two schemes are being taken up under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.

The refurbishment of distribution system in the northeast zone in the central area of the city is estimated at Rs.190.18 crores.

Under the JNNURM funding pattern, 50 per cent of the cost, Rs.95.09 crores, is borne by Central Government.

The Government of Andhra Pradesh provides 20 per cent, 38.03 crores, and the Greater Visakhaptnam Municipal Corporation has to contribute Rs.57.05 crores, 30 per cent of the cost. It covers a population of 6.89 lakhs in Dondapathy, Madhuranagar, NGGOs’ Colony, KRM Colony, Doctors’ Colony, MVP Colony, Resapuvanipalem, Peda Waltair, AU Outgate, ASR Nagar, Durganagar, Kailasagiri, Dasapalla Hills etc.

As part of the project, seven service reservoirs will be constructed.

While Elevated Service Reservoirs (ELSR) will have a capacity of 7,500 kl ground-level service reservoirs (GLSR) of 5,900 kl also form part of it.

Supply and laying of gravity mains of 22 km and supply and laying of distribution lines of 504 km and sump wells of a capacity of 900 kl also comprise the work.

The comprehensive water supply system in the One Town area is being taken up at an outlay of Rs.47.93 crores to cover a population of 1.48 lakh.

While the Central and State Governments grant Rs.23.96 crores and Rs.9.58 crores, the GVMC has to foot Rs.14.38 crores.

The area behind King George Hospital, Andhra Medical College, Mrs.AVN College area, Chilakapeta, Tuner’s Choultry, Dyke Tank, Burujupeta and Durga Hill will benefit from the scheme.

ELSRs of 1,400 kl and GLSRs of 6,500 kl, supply and gravity mains of 9.5 km, supply and distribution lines of 76 km and sump wells for 575 kl are the main features of the work.