Business Line          29.06.2011

Israeli firms to share water management know-how

Our Bureau

Big opportunity: Mr S. Raghupathy, Executive Director, CII Godrej Green Business Centre, signing documents with the Israel Water delegation led by Mr Oded Destil, Israel NEWTech, Investment Promotion Centre of Ministry of Industry, in Hyderabad on Tuesday. (From left) Mr M. Maheedhar Reddy, Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development, Andhra Pradesh; Mr Mouneer Agbariya, Counsellor, Economic Affairs, Embassy of Israel, Mr Yithak Kiriati, Director, Department of Agrotechnology, Water and Environment, Israel Export and International Co-operation Institute; and Mr M. K. Patodia, Managing Director, GTN Industries, are also seen. — P.V. Sivakumar

Hyderabad, June 28:  

Israeli water management companies are keen to partner with their counterparts in India to bring about changes in the way water is managed by sharing know how, Mr Oded Distel, Director, Israel NEWTech, Investment Promotion Centre of Ministry of Industry, Israel, said here today.

He said “water is scarce. Israeli companies have become experts in water management over the years. This is something we achieved as we did not have any other option but to find new ways to meet water requirement in a water-short nation. By 2015 about 70 per cent our water required would be met through desalination. Our innovative approach has helped.”

The CII-Green Business Centre and the Israeli Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labour, inked a joint declaration on cooperation in areas of water management and technology today. This is part of the Israel NEWTech programme to share knowledge.

Speaking at the CII-GBC, Mr Oded Distel said, “we have begun to understand the Indian market for water management. This is a big opportunity for Israeli companies, which have gained expertise in different aspects of water management. We also know that it would not be possible to share our expertise without local partners.” Mr S. Raghupathy, Executive Director, CII Godrej-GBC, outlined the opportunities for Israeli companies to partner Indian firms right from water management to waste water management, including treatment plants. The joint declaration entered into here in the presence of Mr M. Maheedhar Reddy, Andhra Pradesh Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development, seeks to promote business opportunities in water management, take business missions and cooperate in water management projects and share technology.

About 10 Israeli firms are here to hold parleys with their counterparts to explore opportunities for cooperation.

(This article was published in the Business Line print edition dated June 29, 2011)

The Hindu           31.03.2011

Water to be supplied in tanker lorries to all wards

Even as the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) is coming under increasing fire for the acute water scarcity in the city, it has decided to supply water through tankers to all the 198 wards of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).

After listening to the complaints of several councillors on Tuesday evening, BWSSB chairperson P.B. Ramamurthy said that if the BBMP paid for the tankers, BWSSB would bear the water charges. Following this, the BBMP decided to deposit Rs. 5 crore with BWSSB towards the purchase of 62 new tankers. Already, BWSSB has been supplying water through 83 tankers to the newly added CMC areas and 42 tankers in the core areas.

Power supply blamed

Mr. Ramamurthy said that the city gets 900 mld (million litres per day) from Cauvery and 20 mld from T.G. Halli reservoir. As many as 2,671 new borewells have been drilled this year. He attributed the problems in water supply, especially in the east, to the disruptions in power supply. “If we get quality supply without any disruptions, 90 per cent of problems with water supply can be solved,” he maintained.

BWSSB had already held discussions on the issue with Ministers S. Suresh Kumar and Shobha Karandlaje and Managing Director of Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Ltd. Lata Krishna Rao. BWSSB had requested KPTCL to provide for a switch over system at the various pumping stations.

Earlier in the day, the Council discussed the drinking water crisis at length. Even Yelahanka MLA S.R. Vishwanath joined in and offered some suggestions to the water crisis.

He claimed that the northern parts of the city were more affected what with next to nothing storage in T.G. Halli reservoir. He said borewells only provided temporary relief and added that lakes were also drying up in the city. He suggested that the treated water be pumped into the dry lake beds.

BBMP Commissioner Siddaiah said that councillors had requested for 1,511 borewells and water supply through 1,676 tankers. “This will cost the BBMP Rs. 92 crore. However, past experience has shown that the failure rate of borewells to be as high as 40 per cent. We need to rethink about drilling so many borewells,” he said.

He said that it costs Rs. 1,650 to rent a privately owned tanker a day, while the BWSSB charges Rs. 250.

No change at all

Unconvinced, JD(S) Floor Leader Padmanabha Reddy stated that despite assurances, there was no change on the field. Mohammed Rizwan, Gurappanapalya councillor, said BWSSB did not have sufficient tankers to supply water to satiate the thirst of the city.

He suggested that BBMP commandeer all private tankers during summer.

Senior councillors claimed that earlier 10 tankers each were deputed to each ward and that the same system be employed now.

In response, the Commissioner clarified that all areas did not experience similar water problems. He stated that water tankers could be used only based on the demand/ requirements. “We will check if we have the power to take over the private tankers. We can still negotiate the prices with the private operators,” he said.