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Water Supply

GMADA does its bit to augment water supply

Friday, 23 April 2010 11:30 administrator
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Indian Express 23.04.2010

GMADA does its bit to augment water supply

Express News Service Tags : GMADA, water Posted: Friday , Apr 23, 2010 at 0024 hrs

Mohali: Keeping in view the widening gap between availability and demand of potable water in Mohali, the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) has begun work to install 10 new tubewells in different parts of the city. Accepting the request of the Mohali Municipal Council (MC), which had expressed inability to augment water supply due to fund crunch, the GMADA has released Rs 352.29 lakh to augment one MGD water in Mohali.

Following the formal nod from Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, who is also the GMADA Chairman, the authority has also finalised the sites for installation of the tubewells, a senior official said. According to the decision taken at the sixth meeting of the GMADA Board of Directors, chaired by Badal recently, a new tubewell each would be installed in Phase 3B1, VII, IV, IX, I and Sector 70, while two tubewells each will be installed in Phase X and XI.

Mohali is short of seven MGD (million gallons daily) water for drinking purposes and this figure shoots up to 10 MGD in peak summer (May to July). At present, 28 tube-wells and Kajauli water quench thirst of over three lakh residents settled in 23.86 square km area divided in 31 wards with 10 over head supply reservoirs (OHSRs), two with two lakh gallons and eight with one lakh gallon capacity. One of them has been out of order since long.

Besides 10 MGD canal water, 3.2 MGD water was supplied from tube-wells. Even though the peak summer is yet to commence, water problems are already haunting Mohali. The only long-term solution to install Phase V and VI Kajauli waterworks, which will supply 40 MGD canal water, seems a distant dream as GMADA, while citing shortage of funds to undertake the project approved exclusively for Mohali, had referred the project to Centre for funding under JNNURM.

As the thirst of Mohali and its satellite towns Kharar, Kurali and Nayagaon is aggravating with each passing day, the official indifference has doubled the initial estimated project cost of Rs 65 crore in the last four years, even after the land to lay canal water supply lines from Kajauli to Mohali had been acquired long ago.

Last Updated on Friday, 23 April 2010 11:39
 

New Mayor to focus on streamlining water supply

Friday, 23 April 2010 05:16 administrator
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The Hindu 23.04.2010

New Mayor to focus on streamlining water supply

Staff Correspondent

‘Secular forces came together to keep BJP at bay

I will lend a helping hand to Mayor,

says Pushpalatha

MYSORE: Streamlining water supply and improving amenities in MCC limits are the priorities of the newly-elected Mayor Sandesh Swamy alias S. Satish.

Thanking the people of Mysore and the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) for giving him an opportunity to head the 65-member Council of the Mysore City Corporation, Mr. Sandesh Swamy, who represents ward 62 in the MCC Council, said that the two parties had joined hands to spoil the Bharatiya Janata Party's electoral prospects.

“The reason why the secular forces came together was to keep the BJP away from power. Henceforth, I will focus on the development of the city which has gained international attention,” he told presspersons after the election.

Deputy Mayor Pushpalatha Jagannath said that she would support the initiatives to retain the heritage character of the city.

“I will lend a helping hand to the Mayor and the administration in bringing good governance,” she said.

She would also focus on the water problem in the city, she added.

Soon after the election, supporters of Mr. Sandesh Swamy burst crackers and cheered the newly-elected Mayor.

BJP leaders, including MLA S.A. Ramdas, congratulated Mr. Sandesh Swamy.

Last Updated on Friday, 23 April 2010 05:18
 

Water: 30-40 per cent distribution losses common in cities, says civic chief

Thursday, 22 April 2010 10:56 administrator
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IndianExpress 22.04.2010

Water: 30-40 per cent distribution losses common in cities, says civic chief

Express News Service Tags : corporation, water Posted: Thursday , Apr 22, 2010 at 0400 hrs

Pune: Even as the Pune Municipal Corporation has been drawing flak from all quarters for failing to minimise the losses during water distribution, municipal commissioner Mahesh Zagade on Wednesday tried to defend the water distribution losses saying that 30 to 40 per cent of losses can be found in any city.

To make equitable water distribution a reality, Zagade said, the process to appoint a consultant to study the water distribution system has been initiated.

Last month, during a general body meeting, Zagade had expressed helplessness when he said that the city was using double the amount of water required.

“The state irrigation department has sanctioned 11 TMC (thousand million cubic metres) water for Pune. Last year, we received 14 TMC water. Even if we consider that city has a population of 35 lakh and 135-150 litre water is provided per head on daily basis, city’s need comes to about 7.8 TMC. This means, the city is using double quota of water than required,” Zagade had said.

However, on Wednesday, he said, “I must admit that Pune witnesses a lot of water loss. Not only in Pune, but also in other cities, 30 to 40 per cent of water distribution losses could be found.”

 

Later, he explained various measures undertaken by the civic administration to improve the situation. “There is a need to revamp the existing water distribution system as some areas of the city receives more water than others.

Our target is to provide 150 litres of water per capita. Therefore, for an equitable water distribution system, a consultant will be appointed.”

City’s water crisis is becoming acute. Therefore, we have divided the city into three sections to facilitate distribution and appointed three special officers. We will also create a new post of hydraulic engineer,” he said.

Earlier, corporators, cutting across party lines, launched a verbal attack on the civic administration for failing to provide sufficient water to citizens. Several corporators pointed out that the administration had failed to find any solution despite discussions in the general body meetings for years.

MNS flays PMC for sponsoring Baisakhi fest

THE Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) on Tuesday staged a protest in the general body against the Pune Municipal Corporation’s decision to be the co-sponsor of Baisakhi festival and allotting Rs 30 lakh for the same.

The civic body sanctioned Rs 30 lakh for cultural programmes and the organisers also charged entry fee,” said MNS corporator Rajendra Wagaskar. He said it was learnt that the civic staff was made to sell tickets to citizens for the programme. The programme was organised by a non-registered organisation, he alleged.

Mayor Mohansingh Rajpal said he would clarify all the doubts on the issue and the civic body has done nothing wrong by conducting the programme

Last Updated on Thursday, 22 April 2010 10:59
 
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