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Rainwater harvesting rules draft notification issued

Thursday, 24 September 2009 04:42 administrator
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The Hindu 24.09.2009

Rainwater harvesting rules draft notification issued

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: The draft regulations making rainwater harvesting mandatory on the buildings in Bangalore have been notified by the State Government.

The regulations had been prepared for the amended Act by a committee appointed by BWSSB, a release said.

The regulations follow the amendment brought to the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board Act recently.

The public might view the draft regulations on www.bwssb.org and submit their suggestions on or before October 1.

It has details on the roof-based rainwater harvesting and land-based rainwater harvesting and has putforth design criteria to be followed for both. For the roof-based rainwater, the regulation states it should be harvested through a storage tank or recharged through an open well or a borewell in the building irrespective of the nature of sub-soil conditions.

Land-based rainwater

For land-based rainwater from open spaces around the buildings/gardens and parks, water should be harvested using appropriate groundwater recharge structures, depending on the nature of the sub-soil conditions.

The regulation has stipulated timeframe for erecting rainwater harvesting structures in buildings that come up on an area of 1,200 sq. ft. and above and those that are in the site area of 2,400 sq ft. and above.

Last Updated on Thursday, 24 September 2009 04:45
 

Septic waste won’t stink any more

Thursday, 24 September 2009 00:00 administrator
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The New Indian Express 24.09.2009

Septic waste won’t stink any more

Express News Service


KOCHI: To tackle the growing septic tank waste, the Kochi Corporation has decided to start two new sewage treatment plants in the city. The tender procedures of the plants, which are to be started in West Kochi and East Kochi areas, have started.

The agency for constructing the plants will be the Kerala Water Authority (KWA). Once the plants are set up, sewage waste from households, offices and other establishments can be disposed of through pipelines specifically laid for it and treated at the plant. “We have initiated tender procedures for constructing two sewage plants. The plants will be a permanent solution to the problem of septic tank waste being dumped in various drains and water bodies in the city,’’ said Deputy Mayor C K Manisanker.

“We will be entrusting the construction of the plant to the KWA as it is the only agency with adequate expertise in the area,’’ he said. There is already a sewage plant run by the KWA at Elamkulam to cater to the needs of the central business district (CBD). But a large section of households and offices in the area are not using the facility. According to the residents in the area, the high rate charged for using the facility keeps them away.

According to Corporation and Health Department officials, one main reason for the mosquito menace in the city is leaking septic tanks. The sewage plant is expected to solve this problem.

Last Updated on Friday, 25 September 2009 07:29
 

After 16 years, Sursagar Lake to have boating once again

Wednesday, 23 September 2009 11:26 administrator
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Indian Express 23.09.2009

After 16 years, Sursagar Lake to have boating once again

Barodians may soon enjoy boating in the Sursagar Lake. The Standing Committee of the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) is likely to take the final decision on the proposal on September 25.

The proposal to start boating services has come from Dolphin Entertainment and it has been included in the meeting agenda for final decision, said officials at VMC’s tourist department. They said it is only a formality to bring the proposal in the Standing Committee meeting and will be passed without any problems.

“Barodians will soon get the experience of boating in the lak after a gap of 16 long years,” said a senior official at VMC.

While three firms had come forward to offer their services for boating facilities, Dolphin Entertainment was selected. It will be allowed to function against a licence fee of Rs 5.22 lakh per year.

Though tenders for the project had been floated in December 2008, because of stringent rules and regulations imposed by VMC, not many came forward for the project.

In 1993, VMC had stopped boating facility in the Sursagar Lake after 22 people, including nine children, had died after a boat capsized. The mishap raised several questions about the loopholes in the system and the case went on for years together in court.

More than a decade later, VMC decided to bring back the fun of boating after instituting several stringent rules and regulations for the operator.

VMC plans to introduce five two-seater boats and 10 four-seater pedal boats. Half hourly rides will come at a cost of Rs 25 and Rs 40 respectively.

According to the new conditions considered, the number of the boats will be limited and the material of the boats will be fibre and not wood.

The boats will not be motor-driven; they will be pedal boats. Further, life-saving equipment are a must on board as well as for rescue operation in case of any untoward incident.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 23 September 2009 11:29
 
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