The Times of India             07.10.2010

JAIPUR: By next week, at least 800 houses would be connected with 24x7 water supply lines. This might be a prelude to the entire city realising the dream in coming months. First, the PHED is working on a pilot project that would connect houses in parts of Mansarovar and Malviya Nagar with special supply lines.

The idea behind the initiative has been to study the consumption pattern of residents under the 24x7 supply regime. However, all experts working on the project seem positive about reduced withdrawal, consumption and loss of water under the new supply system.

By October 15, Sectors 1, 3 and 9 in Mansarovar and 1 in Malviya Nagar would be linked with 800 connections of special pipelines that would supply water 24x7 and the consumers would no longer require to store water in their overhead tanks for future consumption.

According to Dinesh Sharma, senior engineer and city in-charge, PHED, the idea behind introducing the new system on a pilot basis is to know the consumption pattern of the residents.

"Experience in Badlapur in Maharashtra and in cities in Malaysia show that people have reduced their consumption and the internal loss of water had been controlled under the new system," said Sharma.

The success stories of these areas have shown they also have similar level of water procurement from various sources.

"They also work at 140 litre per capita per day (LPCD) as we do and they have successfully run the 24x7 supply system," added Sharma. He exuded confidence that if the pilot project is successful then the areas would be extended in the near future.

The PHED would stress on introducing new metering and prevention of internal leakage of water due to ruptured pipelines and faults in the end users' lines. According to a government audit report, water worth Rs 235 crore is lost by the PHED due to abnormal leakage in the distribution network of this parched state.

The CAG audit report for 2009 shows the loss due to leakage between the water drawn and received by the end-users is around Rs 235 crore between 2003-04 and 2007-08. The report also speaks about the illegal water connections which take a toll on both revenue of the department and the state's commitment to provide water to everyone.

However, working on improving the situation would increase the LPCD for the city and thus the chances of graduating to the new system would be brighter. At present Jaipur has 130 LPCD for an average consumer.

The Hindu  07.10.2010

Irregularities in project estimate lead to delays in water scheme

Dennis Marcus Mathew

‘Difference of opinion between State and Central governments is not the reason for delay'

ALAPPUZHA: The long-delayed Alappuzha Drinking Water Project, which has recently been the subject of intense political face-offs though it continues to fuel hopes of pure drinking water for the public in the district headquarters, is apparently heading for further holdups.

The project, conceived in 2007 to ensure pure water to the Alappuzha municipality and eight surrounding panchayats as part of the Centre's Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns (UIDSSMT) at an initial cost estimate of Rs.151 crore, had its detailed project report (DPR) revised in 2009 to Rs.247.65 crore and still, is yet to take off.

While political parties here have been blaming each other for the inordinate delay in the implementation of the project that got funds three years ago, the actual cause of delay appears to be different. Bid offers from contractors for the original DPR of Rs.151 crore, according to official sources, were extremely high. However, instead of inviting fresh tenders, the DPR was revised to Rs.247.65 crore, thus bringing down the difference between the tenders and the estimate from about 80 per cent to about 20 per cent.

This move triggered doubts in the Local Self Government Department, with a meeting convened by the Principal Secretary (LSGD) in January this year, pointing out “grave irregularities” in the preparation of the project estimate. The rates in the DPR were found to be “intentionally boosted.”

Revised estimate

According to sources, it was also noted that certain officials of the Kerala Water Authority in Alappuzha had “misled” a committee, which is chaired by the LSGD Minister and has the Water Resources Minister, Chief Secretary and other high-ranking officials as members.

Action was recommended against the KWA officials and at the same time, the estimate was to be revised. The project team submitted the third DPR in June, fixing the cost estimate at Rs.188.33 crore.

The Government's Empowered Committee, according to a senior official, has “decided not to allow any scam” and has forwarded the third DPR to the State Chief Technical Examiner for an independent examination, only after which the project will move forward.

“It was an apparent attempt to swindle about Rs.90 crore that delayed the project, and not because of any Centre-State government difference of opinion as political parties are claiming. A probe is on and show-cause notices have been served to the officials,” a senior official told The Hindu on condition of anonymity.