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Water Supply

New drinking water project on anvil

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The Hindu 15.03.2010

New drinking water project on anvil

Staff Reporter

Nalgonda Municipality submits proposal to the government

 


Drinking water project works initiated in a total of 96 municipalities in the State: Minister

‘Projects completed in 46 municipalities, remaining to be completed before the year end'


NALGONDA: Minister for Municipal Administration Anam Ramnarayana Reddy has said that a proposal to implement a new drinking water project at an estimated cost of Rs. 28 crore for meeting the growing drinking water needs of Nalgonda town was under the consideration of the government.

The Minister inaugurated the new building of Nalgonda municipality constructed at an estimated cost of Rs. 3 crore here on Sunday.

Speaking on the occasion, he said that a proposal on a new drinking water project was submitted by the Nalgonda municipality to the government.

The matter would be taken up with Chief Minister K. Rosaiah and a decision would be taken in this regard soon, he said.

Completed projects

Drinking water project works were initiated in a total of 96 municipalities in the State, he said adding that the projects were completed in about 46 municipalities.

The remaining projects would be completed before the year end, he said.

Disciplined soldiers

Responding to the appeal made by Nalgonda MP G. Sukhender Reddy seeking his support for separate Telangana, the Minister said that they would abide by the decision of the Congress president Sonia Gandhi on the issue. “Though we may have individual opinions, we are bound to honour the decision of our president like disciplined soldiers,” he remarked.

The Minister for Information Technology K Venkat Reddy, the in-charge Collector Neetu Prasad and others were present.

Pending proposals

Later, addressing mediapersons, Mr. Ramnarayana Reddy said that the pending proposals in respect of upgradation of 56 gram panchayats into new municipalities would be considered after March 31, 2011, in view of the notification issued by the Central government for the ensuing census.

Municipal elections

The municipal elections are likely to be held in September as per schedule, the Minister said adding that the views of all the political parties and the sections concerned would be elicited on the proposals like conducting direct elections to the posts of municipal chairmen.

A special drive would be conducted to check unauthorised constructions.

Stringent action would be taken against those who failed to comply with the stipulated norms like provision of fire fighting equipment in hospitals and other structures, he said.

Last Updated on Monday, 15 March 2010 07:34
 

Delhi wastes half the water it gets

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Hindustan Times 12.03.2010

Delhi wastes half the water it gets

When it comes to wasting treated water, the country’s mega cities are the biggest culprits. This, when about 68 per cent of the population has access to piped water supply.

Treated water, or non-revenue water, is water that is fed into the system but does not reach a consumer — either due to pilferage or because of leakage in pipes.

Saugata Roy, Minister of State for Urban Develop-ment told the Rajya Sabha on Thursday that seven mega cities in the country waste between 13 and 53 per cent of treated water.

Delhi tops the list, wasting 52.4 per cent of treated water, followed by Banga-lore (50.9 per cent) and Hyderabad (37.5 per cent).

Mumbai is one of the better performers, where wastage of treated water is 13 per cent, followed by Chennai with 17 per cent.

“The states’ water boards/corporations do not have the capacity or the expertise to identify or plug the leakages. Unless leakages are fixed, wastage will continue,” said V. Srinivas Chary, director, Centre for Energy, Environment, Urban Governance and Infrastructure Development at Hyderabad’s Administrative Staff College of India.

Last Updated on Friday, 12 March 2010 07:19
 

Paver blocks affect groundwater levels

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Hindustan Times 12.03.2010

Paver blocks affect groundwater levels

A study by the Groundwater Survey and Development Agency (GSDA) has revealed that paver-blocks are adversely affecting the recharging of groundwater levels in the city.

The civic corporation had asked the agency to conduct a survey for this matter.

“Extensive use of paver blocks for footpaths and approach roads affects the rainwater seepage,” said S.K.Gupta, former regional deputy director of the Groundwater Survey & Development Agency, Belapur, and a senior expert of the two-member GSDA committee, which was appointed to identify spots where new borewells could be dug. Gupta said that the paver-blocks, which are made of cement, are 4 to 5 inches thick. The interlocking of blocks allows only five per cent of the run-off water to percolate down, whereas on a mud track percolation levels were up to 40-45 per cent.

The civic body started using paver blocks since 2000-2001 because the laying of paver-blocks takes less time compared to other road surfacing options.

The blocks are usually used at high-traffic junctions.

“Exploiting ground water sources without recharging them will lead to a major problem in the future,” added Gupta.

“If the water table is not recharged adequately, it will facilitate the sea water to seep in and that in turn will make the ground water non-potable."

Gupta said that groundwater levels in suburbs such as Andheri (East), Malad (East) and Goregaon are over exploited and that the civic body should restrict the depth of the borewells that are now 400 ft deep.

Last Updated on Friday, 12 March 2010 07:12
 


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