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Water Supply

PMC to dig borewells in housing societies

Thursday, 23 August 2012 06:48 administrator
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The Times of India    23.08.2012

PMC to dig borewells in housing societies

PUNE: The general body of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) on Wednesday approved a policy decision to dig borewells on the premises of private housing societies for public use.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) corporators, Rupali Thombare-Patil and Prakash Dhore, had tabled the proposal. The duo stated that ground water in the premises of private housing societies in the city should be used for public purpose. The PMC should dig borewells with the society's permission and sign a contract with society to allow citizens other then society members to use the water.

"The PMC should first take a no objection certificate from the societies for the same," said Congress leader Arvind Shinde. NCP leader Subhash Jagtap assured that the PMC will sign a contract with the society. "This decision has been taken considering water scarcity in the city," said Jagtap. All party corporators unanimously approved the resolution.

Last month the PMC had announced its decision to take over all the wells and borewells in water scarcity zones in the city and open them for citizens' use to tide over the water shortage.

The civic body plans to utilize 399 wells and 4,820 bore wells in the city. According to the Groundwater Survey and Development Agency (GSDA), 155 dug wells and 1,575 borewells in the city have potable drinking water.

However, the general body (GB) did not approve another resolution tabled by a group of BJP corporators which stated that properties which have borewells should compulsorily have rainwater harvesting system. Ruling Congress and NCP leaders said that the municipal commissioner should table his observations on the proposal and only then the GB will take a decision on the same. The GB also deferred the decision to make rainwater harvesting compulsory to new constructions in the city.

Last Updated on Thursday, 23 August 2012 06:54
 

Money down the drain as civic water plant goes dry

Thursday, 23 August 2012 06:28 administrator
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The Times of India     23.08.2012

Money down the drain as civic water plant goes dry

NASHIK: The Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC)'s water treatment plant worth a few lakh rupees that was originally installed at Ramkund near the Godavari during the last Kumbh Mela is now lying idle after being moved to Dindori Road.

The unit was packed and transported to the civic body's filtration plant at Dindori, within a couple of years of use. Officials from the NMC's mechanical engineering department say that solid material thrown by locals, into the river had been hindering the water filtration process.

N S Gavli, deputy engineer of the NMC's mechanical department, said that the machinery has been shifted to Dindori Road to prevent its theft. "We used it for a couple of years after installing it but did not find it effective. It used to get choked up due to sold waste (thrown in the river)", he said.

Executive engineer of the mechanical department RK Pawar said, "People throw rice, used diyas, flowers and other items in the river and this chokes up the pipes. We have had to remove the dirt and silt from the pipe on several occasions but the waste keeps accumulating hampering the filtration process. During the last two floods the equipmemnt also got submerged. Therefore, for security purposes, we have now shifted the machine."

He added that NMC had no plans to reinstall and reuse the plant. Several lakh of rupees had been spent on the project but now it is deemed unfeasible for use. The NMC have any record of the machine on paper since itwas installed over ten years ago.
Last Updated on Thursday, 23 August 2012 06:29
 

Cloud seeding costs touch sky as BMC dithers on company

Thursday, 23 August 2012 05:42 administrator
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The Times of India    23.08.2012

Cloud seeding costs touch sky as BMC dithers on company

MUMBAI: The cost for the BMC's ambitious cloud seeding experiment to induce rain near Bhatsa and Upper Vaitarna catchments has gone up from Rs 12 crore to 20 crore with the BMC's decision to procure aircraft from India-based company My Avani, which in turn will bring specialized aircraft from South Africa.

The BMC had initially roped in Israel's Mekorot to bring aircraft, but owing to hassles over clearances, it changed its plan and is now negotiating with My Avani.

"We are waiting for a no objection certificate (NOC) from the central home department to use flying space for the aircraft. Had we passed the proposal in the standing committee meeting, the BMC would have got only 20% of the project cost, as per the condition set by the private firm in the work order. An official each from the hydraulic department and Mekorot has reached Delhi to work on approvals," said Rahul Shewale, chairman, standing committee.

However, Mekorot will only offer manpower and salt crystals for the experiment. that will provide a short-term respite from and a long-term solution to water crisis here.

On July 31, the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) told the BMC that Israel had developed technology for cloud seeding. The BMC had signed an MoU with Israel's water and energy department last year.

The process will involve sprinkling of sodium chloride crystals from a plane on clouds to induce precipitation and subsequently, rain. It will be held over Bhatsa and Upper Vaitarna lakes. So far, the city is short of 4 lakh MLD water.The BMC has been advised by IITM to go for cloud seeding in September as frequency of appearance of 'seedable' clouds is more then.

Last Updated on Thursday, 23 August 2012 05:44
 
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