Urban News

  • Increase font size
  • Default font size
  • Decrease font size
India Newspapers

Inflow to Yamuna to be cleaned up at last

Monday, 31 August 2009 11:16 administrator
Print PDF

Indian Express 31.08.2009

Inflow to Yamuna to be cleaned up at last

After waiting for the nod from the Ministry of Urban Development for over a year now, the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has finally received the technical go-ahead for its ambitious plan of resuscitating the Yamuna’s 22-km stretch in Delhi by constructing interceptor sewers.

While the total construction cost of the project has been pegged at Rs 1,800 crore, the agency plans to finance Rs 600 crore through funding from the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).

The DJB is also negotiating with the Housing and Urban Development Corporation Limited (HUDCO) for a loan of Rs 800 crore. The remaining Rs 400 crore for the project will be funded by the Delhi government.

According to sources, the Central Public Health and Environmental Engineering Organisation of the Ministry of Urban Development, the highest technical body in the country, has given approval to the Delhi Jal Board to go ahead with the Interceptor Sewage Project. The DJB will now seek approval from the Expenditure Finance Committee of the Union Ministry of Finance.

The Ministry of Urban Development Secretary M Ramachandran told Newsline: “It is a very largescale project. The technical committee, CPHEO, has approved it, but the project will require a final sanction from the Union Cabinet.”

While sources said construction work on the project is likely to begin by the end of this year, its completion will take the agency at least four years. The DJB’s Chief Executive Officer Ramesh Negi said: “The Delhi government has given a green signal and the CPHEO has approved the project. At the earliest, work on it should begin by December after the requisite approvals.”

Once the construction costs are dealt with, however, the DJB will need another Rs 600 crore for the operation and maintenance of the project for 10 years. Delhi, on an average, extracts 240 million gallons per day (MGD) from the Yamuna for its fresh water needs and releases 950 MGD.

According to the DJB, the interceptor sewer project is an integrated approach towards zero sewage flow in the drains and ultimately the river. The laying of interceptor sewers includes tapping the minor drains carrying sewage into three of the major drains — Najafgarh, Supplementary and Shahdara — and conveying the same to the nearest treatment plant to ensure that only treated sewage is discharged. The project aims to lay 60 kms of sewers parallel to these three drains to tap 135 minor drains.

Last Updated on Monday, 31 August 2009 11:19
 

Save historic sites in Karnataka

Monday, 31 August 2009 05:13 administrator
Print PDF

Deccan Chronicle 31.08.2009

Save historic sites in Karnataka

August 31st, 2009
By Our Correspondent

Bengaluru, Aug. 30: Few know that Visvesvaraya Towers on Ambedkdar Veedhi stands at the spot where renowned engineer and former Dewan of Mysore Sir M. Visvesvaraya’s home was once located. There is, of course, no trace of it today. It is only one of the many heritage bungalows once occupied by ordinary people and the more famous, including maharajas of old and British officers, that have disappeared from the city’s heritage map over the years to make way for newer buildings, with successive governments displaying little vision in the matter of protecting historical structures like Sir MV’s home.

And the process is, unfortunately, still continuing. Several buildings, some even dating back to the late 1800s, may be replaced by newer ones as their owners are finding keeping them intact an uphill task. Many are now ready to throw up their hands and call it a day as far as their old properties go as they have little support from the government in preserving them.

Several bungalows built in Bengaluru in the 1800s are European in architecture. Many of them still dot Malleswaram, Basavanagudi and Chamarajpet. But increasingly, they are being sold or demolished to make way for new structures.

“Maintaining 100-year-old structures is not an easy task, especially when there is no support from the government. If these structures have to be saved, the government must take urgent steps to identify them and help in renovation,” says veteran historian Dr Suryanath Kamath.

“Why are people only now making a hue and cry over felling of trees and the likely harm to heritage structures due to the Metro rail and widening of roads, when the alignment of these projects was made public a long time ago?” he asks.

Ganachari M., a senior citizen from Basavanagudi, says it will be a sorry day when Bengaluru, which has already lost many of its lakes and avenue trees, says goodbye to the last of its heritage structures. “Modernisation and protection of monuments must go hand in hand,” he points out.

 

Bellary special: Water pipeline inside drainage

Monday, 31 August 2009 04:46 administrator
Print PDF

The New Indian Express 31.08.2009

Bellary special: Water pipeline inside drainage

Suresh M Jadar


The newly-laid water pipelines passing through the drainage chamber in Cowl Bazaar area in Bellary.
BELLARY: The laying water pipeline inside the drainage chamber or very close beside the drainage lines in some parts of Bellary city has come under severe criticism from the public.

The mindless acts of the city corporation as part of its road widening project is against all norms and may prove to be a big health hazard in the long run, say the citizens.

Road widening and other developmental works are being carried out in the city under the Rs 100-crore special package. The corporation, like in many areas, has demolished encroachments and felled a number of trees in Cowl Bazaar area for road widening work.

The road is being widened from TB Sanitorium to First Railway Gate via Cowl Bazaar.

The authorities have taken up the work of laying new under-ground drainage (UGD) and new water supply pipelines.

The pipeline laying work has raised health concern, since the water supply pipes have gone through drainage chamber at some places.

Both the UGD and water pipes have been laid side by side breaking all norms at some other places in the area.Citizens of the area are expressing fear that this sort of water supply network may prove a big source for diseases in the long run. The area will become highly prone to the spread of water borne diseases, they said.

Lack of coordination and planning between the corporation officials and the contractors has drawn flak from all quarters.

Environmentalist and convener of 'Parisar Mitra' Potnal Babu and Prof P Sathynarayan Rao (retd), have raised the issue with the authorities concerned and urged them to rectify the unscientific way of laying water pipelines.

"It is a matter of great concern.

Even if the water gets contaminated at one point, all other areas that get water from the network of pipelines will be affected," they said.Officials claim that the road had occupied more space in some parts of the area leaving very less space for laying water pipes.

Local citizens are demanding that pipelines be laid with comfortable distance from the drainage pipes and outside the drainage chamber.

The authorities of the corporation, including the District Health Officer, have finally woken up and inspected the spot of concern on Sunday.

Speaking to Express, mayor K Basavaraj said that he would inspect the spot and take measures set the things right.

Officials claim, that the road has occupied more space, in some parts of that area leaving very small space for laying pipes, bringing them closer to each other.

Residents have stressed that pipelines be laid properly with comfortable distance to each other and outside the drainage chamber.

Last Updated on Monday, 31 August 2009 04:55
 
More Articles...


Page 4677 of 4907