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Water lobby at work: experts

Monday, 03 May 2010 06:02 administrator
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The Hindu 03.05.2010

Water lobby at work: experts

Staff Reporter

‘GVMC fails to have a plan in place to tide over crisis'

 

Praja Spandana seeks water emergency

Compulsory roof water harvesting favoured

 

 

 

— Photo: C.V. SUBRAHMANYAM

MLC M.V.S. Sarma speaking at a seminar on water needs in the city on Sunday.

 

VISAKHAPATNAM: Squarely blaming the Greater Visakha Municipal Corporation for its failure to have a water management plan, several experts felt that a lobby, comprising mineral water and soft drink bottling plant managements, is trying to promote commercialisation of water.

They were speaking at a seminar on ‘Water needs of Visakhapatnam: problems and solutions' conducted jointly by the Visakhapatnam Apartment Residents' Welfare Association (VARWA), the People for India and the Visakha Poura Samkshema Sangham (VPSS).

MLC M.V.S. Sarma, who gave the inaugural address, said due to misplaced priorities, the 2003 water crisis had resurfaced during 2010. After 2003, the GVMC had proclaimed that Visakhapatnam Industrial Water Supply Company (VIWSCO), by diverting Godavari waters to the city, would make a permanent solution to the water problem. “VIWSCO is in doldrums.

It has failed to meet people's need due to utter failure of the GVMC. By diverting funds for flyovers and other projects and succumbing to the diktats of the water lobby, attempts are being made to commercialise water supply,” he pointed out.

Seeking water emergency, Praja Spandana president C.S. Rao mooted cut in water supply to industries, curbs on swimming pools and other luxuries till the situation improved. He also called for water reforms and audit.

‘Expedite projects'

Former Chief Engineer (irrigation) S. Satyanarayana said drinking water supply was a legitimate demand of the people and strongly advocated expediting work on Polavaram and Jhanjhavati projects.

He said developing floodwater storage reservoirs, retaining the old pipeline from Thatipudi and promoting water harvesting structures should form part of water management plan for future. He also wanted steps to reduce transmission losses from Thatipudi and Raiwada.

Chairperson of People for India and former Vice-Chancellor of Andhra University K.V. Ramana said under no circumstances commercialisation of water should not be encouraged. Central Groundwater Board Scientist A.V.S.S. Anand said roof water harvesting should be made compulsory for all the buildings in the city. He said groundwater should not be explored without taking into consideration the suggestions of a geologist or hydro geologist.

Former SE (irrigation) S. Narayana Raju said sand bed at various areas should be used as storage reservoir to improve water level.

Former Head of Department of Civil Engineering, AU, P. Malleswara Rao, former professor of geology G. Krishna Rao, People for India vice-chairperson B.L. Narayana, VARWA general secretary A.V. Ramana Rao and VPSS president B. Ganga Rao spoke.

Last Updated on Monday, 03 May 2010 06:05
 

Bengal’s coastal surveillance plan in deep waters

Friday, 30 April 2010 10:55 administrator
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Indian Express 30.04.2010

Bengal’s coastal surveillance plan in deep waters

Madhuparna Das Tags : Bengal’s coastal surveillance plan, kolkata Posted: Friday , Apr 30, 2010 at 0226 hrs

Kolkata: The comprehensive coastal surveillance plan mooted by the West Bengal government and cleared by the Centre after the Mumbai terror attack has made little progress.

The plan that envisaged setting up of police stations along the Bay of Bengal in the Sundarbans, bordering Bangladesh, lies in shambles even as alerts of possible terrorist attacks keep pouring from intelligence agencies everyday.

Of the proposed 14 police stations, the state government has been able to issue notification for setting up only six in the past 18 months. Of these, only three coastal stations have started operating in South 24-Parganas and one has begun its operation from two manned-launches in East Midnapore on an ad-hoc basis. Two other police stations in North 24-Parganas and East Midnapore are still under construction.

“While submitting the proposal, we had identified the land, determined the mouza and the block in which the police station will be located. We had also completed the bifurcation of the existing police station,” a senior police officer of South 24-Parganas said.

For the last 18 months, five of the eight proposed police stations are awaiting government notification, which is a simple procedural necessity. If the notification is issued, the construction work can begin,” the officer added.

According to the officer, the state home department issued the notification for three of the eight police stations after several months of nagging.

Eight of the proposed police stations in South 24-Parganas include Patharpratima, Sitarampur, Sagar, Frezarganj, Moipith, Chotomollakhali, Diamond Harbour and Namkhana. At present, Moipith, Frezargunj and Choto Mollakhali police stations have started functioning. “We had submitted proposal for setting up eight police stations and 31 outposts in Sundarbans,” said L N Meena, SP of South 24 Parganas.

“We have identified land for the police stations. Now, we are waiting for the issuance of the notification,” Meena added.

In North-24 Parganas, police had recommended setting up one coastal police station in Hemnagar under Hingalganj police station area. “The notification for the coastal police station was issued a few days ago. We have started the construction work and the police station is expected to start operation from the last week of May,” said Rahul Srivastav, SP North 24-Parganas.

In East Midnapore, the police authorities had recommended setting up five coastal police stations. Notification has been issued for two while three others are still awaiting it. “Notification has been issued for Talpotti and Digha Mohana police station. We have identified land for both the police stations but the land identified for the Talpotti police station has been encroached. So it is operating from two manned-launches,” said Ashok Biswas, SP of East Midnapore .

Meanwhile, DGP Bhupinder Singh said the proposal will take time for implementation. “The work for setting up the coastal police stations has started a few months ago. It is a long process and will take,” Singh added.

Last Updated on Monday, 03 May 2010 05:47
 

Rs.67 cr protected water scheme for Ranasthalam

Friday, 30 April 2010 04:53 administrator
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The Hindu 30.04.2010

Rs.67 cr protected water scheme for Ranasthalam

Special Correspondent

SRIKAKULAM: A comprehensive drinking water scheme for providing protected water supply to all villages in Ranasthalam mandal of the district has been prepared, according to District Collector Nagulapalli Srikanth.

He was speaking at a gram sabha during Praja Patham programme at Koshta village on Thursday.

The Collector also revealed that the Government had enhanced the wages payable to labourers participating in rural employment works in summer by 50 per cent and asked the workers should utilise this.

Etcherla MLA Meesala Neelakantam Naidu said the Rs.67 crore Ranasthalam drinking water scheme would ensure that the water woes of the people, who were forced to consume even contaminated water, would be resolved.

Last Updated on Friday, 30 April 2010 05:00
 
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