The Hindu 23.03.2010

Check groundwater contamination: judge

Staff Reporter

— Photo: K. Gopinathan

For a cause:Former Minister B.T. Lalitha Naik at a function organised by the YMCA's Save Bangalore Movement as part of the World Water Day in Bangalore on Monday.

Bangalore: To ensure sustainable availability of water, every citizen has to play a vital role not only in conserving water but also preventing contamination of groundwater, apart from harvesting rainwater, Karnataka High court judge V. Gopal Gowda said here on Monday.

Speaking after inaugurating a programme organised jointly by Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) and Bangalore Jalamandali Abhiyantara Sangha to mark World Water Day, Mr. Gowda blamed the citizens for contamination of groundwater.

“Following rapid industrialisation and letting of sewage into the valleys, all river valleys in the city — Vrishabhavathi, Challaghatta and Hebbal — have been polluted,” he said.

Monday (March 22) is being observed as World Water Day, with the theme “Clean Water for a Healthy World.” This theme signifies that water quality is an important parameter touching on all aspects of ecosystems and human well-being. Therefore, water quality is influential in determining human poverty, wealth and educational levels.

‘Cut usage'

Secretary, Urban Development, Shambhu Dayal Meena called upon people to keep a tab on their monthly water bills and reduce usage.

“People should stop using potable water for washing vehicles and watering plants. I am saying this because I am from Rajasthan and I know the importance of water,” he said and called upon residents' welfare organisations to actively involve themselves in conserving water.

The programme included two technical sessions wherein experts from Germany, U.K. and various parts of the State presented papers.

BWSSB chairman P.B. Ramamurthy, BDA Commissioner Siddaiah, KUIDFC Managing Director Aravind Srivatsav and other top officials were present.

Meanwhile, the YMCA's Save Bangalore Movement also observed World Water Day by organising an awareness programme on the importance of water conservation.

The Hindu 23.03.2010

Drinking water augmentation scheme to be completed by April

Special Correspondent

Srinivas Kommuri

Work apace: Work in progress at the elevated service reservoir in Ongole. —

ONGOLE: The Rs. 18 crore drinking water augmentation scheme would be completed by April 20 to help the municipality supply water every day instead of once-in-three days as in vogue for the last six years.

Executive Engineer (Public Health) A. Satyanarayana Rao, said that six out of seven elevated level service reservoirs (ELSRs), filtration plant are nearing completion. All of them would be ready for commissioning in April. Pipeline has been laid connecting the new ELSRs to the existing distribution mains except for patches where it crosses the road in Ramanagar and at Mourya hotel. These patch works would be completed within a week after getting necessary clearance from Roads and Buildings department.

The pipeline would then be put to hydraulic testing. He expressed confidence to make the system ready for commissioning by April 20.

When once ready, the new system should be connected to the existing distribution network reservoir which would necessitate closure for 2-3 three days under each service reservoir.

The public health department would draw out a plan in consultation with the municipality to complete the work with least inconvenience to the public.

In any case, the new scheme would help the municipality switch over to daily supply of drinking water to the people from mid-May positively, he said.

Ongole MP, Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy, got the scheme sanctioned by the Central government.

Mr. Satyanarayana Rao said that the filtration plant and the ELSRs at Gandhinagar, Sirigiri hill top, Dibbalaroad, Tip Top, Ramanagar and Bhagyanagar were nearing completion. Work could not be started on the seventh reservoir at FCI godowns due to poor soils.

So it is now proposed to construct it at Kothapatnam bus stand and the work would begin soon, he said.

But the scheme did not envisage laying of any pipeline. So the municipality would not be able to extend water supply to any of the uncovered areas.

Secondly, the existing pipeline was laid more than 40 years ago.

As the density of population has increased 2-3 fold, the pipeline would not be able to meet the existing demand.

The municipality had to get another scheme sanctioned for laying of new pipeline in uncovered areas and replace the existing pipeline with greater diameter to cater to the needs of the people.