The Hindu       21.01.2011

Singapore experts suggest steps for better water supply

A team of experts from Singapore on Thursday suggested some measures to improve the water distribution network and solid waste management in the city.

The team is in the city in connection with a workshop on Urban Governance and Management Partnership Programme.

Long and short-term strategies are required to solve some of the existing problems. A proper monitoring mechanism is required to reduce the loss of drinking water during distribution, said Choor Sai Meng, specialist, Major Projects, during an interaction with the media on Thursday.

He said the ownership of water meters should be entrusted with the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) rather than with individual households. This would not only bring in transparency but also help to quickly replace faulty meters.

Susan Jacob, technical member, KWA, said steps had already been taken to introduce the system. In collaboration with the Fluid Control Research Institute, Palakkad, the KWA was planning to set up a meter testing laboratory and repair centre at Nettoor, Kochi. These laboratories would be set up on the lines of the one functioning in Singapore. However, replacement of the old meters would take place with the commissioning of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in the city, she said.

The five-day workshop, which concludes on Friday, is being organised by the Local Self-Government Department; Kerala Sustainable Urban Development Project (KSUDP); Temasek Foundation, a Singapore-government investment firm; and the Singapore Cooperation Enterprise (SCE).

Regarding solid waste management, Dan Pitzler, principal technologist, and Kon Chee Min, project delivery manager, CH2M HILL, said untreatable waste rejects accumulated at the dumping ground at Njeliyamparamba should be shifted to a new properly engineered landfill site away from the city. These should be covered without causing environmental problems.

The Hindu      18.01.2011

KWA draws Mayor's flak

Basic issues: Mayor A.K. Premajam inaugurating a workshop on urban governance and management partnership programme in Kozhikode on Monday. — photo: S. Ramesh Kuurup

Mayor A.K. Premajam on Monday expressed her displeasure over supply of drinking water by the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) in the city.

“Water management is inefficient, with erratic distribution networks and frequent bursting of pipes. Water is supplied only on alternative days. Old pipes burst when water pressure is high. Many of these pipes require urgent replacement. A Rs.25-crore rehabilitation package is yet to take off. Official procedures are delaying the implementation,” the Mayor said.

Prof. Premajam was inaugurating a five-day workshop on urban governance and management partnership programme, organised by the Local Self Government Department; the Kerala Sustainable Urban Development Project (KSUDP); the Temasek Foundation, a Singapore-government investment firm; and the Singapore Cooperation Enterprise.

The workshop focuses on water management and solid waste management.

The responsibility of the civic body had increased with the merger of Beypore, Elathur and Nallalam- Cheruvannur gramapanchayats to the Corporation, the Mayor said.

She said the geographical area had increased by 40 sq m and the population had increased by 2 lakh in the city, compounding the problems faced by the Corporation authorities. People residing in slum areas and middle-class families were the worst hit.

Prof. Premajam said rapid urbanisation had provided immense facilities but had also brought several disadvantages.

The biggest menace was from plastic waste. Now corporation faced the task of safely disposing plastic accumulated in public places and street corners.

Steps had been taken to improve the situation at the garbage dumping ground at Njeliyanparamba.

The waste rejected from treatment plant was still piling up at the site. Solid waste management had become difficult with the merger of gramapanchayats, the Mayor said.

Speaking on the occasion, Anindita Das Gupta, Chief Urban Planner from Singapore, lauded the functioning of the Kudumbasree units involved in the door-to-door collection of household garbage in the city.

Simon Choor, team leader for water management, said the workshop would help to share experiences gained in Singapore.

K. Krishnakumar, training officer, KSUDP, said the workshop would provide the officials with an opportunity to apply concrete lessons in the city. It would also explore the potential for a long-term collaboration between Kerala and Singapore.