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Showing posts from November, 2013

Drinking water major worry for Lingaraj Vihar residents

BHUBANESWAR: Residents of Lingaraj Vihar in the state capital have been running from pillar to post demanding direct pipe water supply by Public Health Department (PHD) to their houses. Lingaraj Vihar in Pokhariput locality was developed as a residential area in 2001-02 and has 430 houses. Ever since inception, drinking water has been a major cause of concern for the residents. Initially, the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) and the two private builders who developed the colony used to fill up a 3 lakh litre water tank in the area hiring water tankers. Residents had to bear the cost. Then, at one point of time, water was lifted from open wells in the area through pumps to fill up the tank. In summer, however, all these arrangements fall flat. After repeated appeals, the public health department ensured piped water connection to the tank, but there is no arrangement for water to reach individual houses, locals rued. "We have been demanding separate PHD pipe water connection

Andhra Pradesh to move Supreme Court against Krishna Water Tribunal award

VIJYAWADA: Andhra Pradesh would approach the Supreme Court against a tribunal's final award on sharing of river Krishna waters and seek "justice" for the state, a minister said on Saturday. Talking to media persons here, minister for secondary education K Parthasarathi said the government of Andhra Pradesh would definitely approach the Supreme Court to seek "justice" for the state on Krishna Water Tribunal award, which has evoked sharp criticism from Opposition parties here. He, however, did not say when the state will approach the apex court. The tribunal, headed by Justice Brijesh Kumar, came out with its final award on Friday. It allotted four thousand million cubic (TMC) of water from Karnataka's share to Andhra Pradesh and at the same time allowed the former to increase the storage in Almatti dam to 524.256 meters. Opposition parties in Andhra Pradesh have called the award a "death blow" to the state, particularly to the Krishna Delta region.

Farmers demand water for irrigation projects

AURANGABAD: Since 11.30am on Friday, the Jayakwadi Pani Sangharsha Kruti Samiti members have locked themselves in the office of A B Jogdand, executive engineer at Command Area Development Authority (CADA), demanding immediate release of water in Hiradpuri and Apegaon dams in Paithan taluka of Aurangabad district. Jogdand is on his official tour and is expected to get back late Friday night or early Saturday morning. The police are on CADA premises to check any untoward incident. Samiti members claimed that they would only leave the locked cabin once their demands were submitted in writing to Jogdand. Jaisingh Hire, sectional engineer at CADA, said that no police action has been advised by higher authorities so far. "The water resources minister Sunil Tatkare on October 28 had assured release of water in the two dams. However, no action has been taken by the administration," said Jayajirao Suryawanshi, president of the Samiti. All minor dams from Jalna to Paithan, excepet Hir

No water, sewage connection without occupancy certificate

NAGPUR: Over 90% buildings in the city are not having occupancy certificate though it is mandatory. The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) and Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) have so far remained mute spectators to it by not taking any action against people who start using buildings without this document that ensures construction is as per the sanctioned plan and also safe for occupation. Municipal commissioner Shyam Wardhane has now come up with a policy to compel builders and individuals to obtain this certificate. NMC will not provide water and sewage connections to buildings unless they have occupancy certificate. Corporators, builders and activists have welcomed the civic chief's decision. The town planning department has drafted the new policy and submitted to Wardhane who is set to notify it in couple of days. The norm, however, will be applicable to all new buildings and not existing ones. There is also a provision of action against the officials concerned if water and sewa

Tata Power installs rain water harvesting system in Mithapur

AHMEDABAD: Tata Power has installed a rain water harvesting system at its Mithapur plant that will conserve water for reuse. The system has already conserved 60KL of water which is being reused for cleaning 107,712 solar PV modules solar module panels at the 25 MW solar power plant, spread over 105 acres. Tata Power's Mithapur project is one of the largest of its kind in the country and has been developed through its 100 per cent subsidiary, 'Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited'. In order for maintain efficiency of the solar panels, upto 100 KL of water is required for maintenance in 12 cycles across the year. As Mithapur region and Jamnagar receive very low rainfall, the objective of installing this system is to help in water conservation and sustainable use of available portable water. This will also help in savings in purchase of desalinated water which can further be used for human and community usage. The initiative is in continuation to Tata power's endeavor to p

Contamination of water: Cops book tanker owner

VASCO: Verna police have registered an offence against the owner of Naulaka transporters, whose tankers carry ammonia, in connection with the contamination of public drinking water with ammonia at Zuarinagar on Wednesday. These tankers supply ammonia from MPT to Zuari industries. Reports from a government lab have confirmed that the water was contaminated by ammonia. The complaint was filed by Mohammed Gaus. Verna PSI Anand Shirodkar, after conducting the panchnamma, said, "Preliminary investigations reveal that the ammonia tankers parked at Zorinth Birla have access to the main water pipeline." He explained that the drivers open the valve of the main water pipeline, remove the water with a plastic pipe and wash their tankers. Probably on Tuesday night, an old tank was washed and the valve was not closed. As a result the ammonia from the old tank went into the pipeline contaminating the drinking water supplied to a large number of people in Zuarinagar. Verna police is now on

Lack of ‘warm water’ may have weakened Lehar!

VISAKHAPATNAM: Cyclone Lehar may have begun with a bang but ended with a whimper by the time it hit the Andhra Pradesh coast near Machilipatnam in Krishna district on Thursday evening with a wind speed of barely 50-70 kmph as it fizzled out over the sea itself. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had predicted that Cyclone Lehar would cross the Andhra Pradesh coast on November 28 noon as a very severe cyclonic storm (VSCS) with a maximum wind speed of 170-200 kmph. IMD's predictions had people from all walks of life in the coastal districts, particularly East Godavari, Visakhapatnam and Srikakulam, as well as the state machinery, right from chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy, worried as it was coming in the wake of cyclones Phailin and Helen. Though the weakened system gave the much needed respite to people as well as the state government, it has now become the cynosure of meteorologists of IMD and scientists of the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), who are now taking

Water woes are likely to continue

CHANDIGARH: Your water woes are far from over. Chandigarh and Mohali residents are likely to receive water supply at low pressure for a day or two after every 20 to 30 days for about three months because of repair work. The municipal corporation engineering wing has decided to start work on fixing about eight major leakages in the main water supply pipelines from Kajauli canal from the next month. "There are seven to eight major leakages in the main pipelines that supply water to Chandigarh and Mohali. We have decided to carry out repair work in winter because the water consumption is comparatively less in the season. Either the morning supply or the evening one will be affected when the work is carried out," said R C Diwan, superintending engineer of MC engineering wing. There are four lines or phases that supply water. Phases I, II and IV are maintained by Punjab engineering department and Phase III by Chandigarh municipal corporation. "Chances of leakage are less in

KMC, Credai solve water body disputes

KOLKATA: Leading real estate developers in the city have persuaded the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) to use multiple reference points to map waterbodies instead of relying solely on a satellite image taken in 2004. At a meeting with KMC commissioner Khalil Ahmad and heads of different departments, including building, assessment and project management unit that deals with waterbodies and heritage issues, local builders under the umbrella of the Confederation of Real Estate Developers Association of India (Credai) convinced the civic officials that KMC needs to do a reality check of plots with waterbodies to resolve disputes that often crop up due to difference in the old satellite image and the current situation on the ground. "Records of KMC often show much bigger waterbodies than the actual one at the site. This is due to anomaly between satellite-aided waterbody map to actual historical and credible evidence-led mapping such as title deeds, parchas and deed plans," C

GHMC, Water Board officials inspect Musi river

HYDERABAD: Senior officials of GHMC and Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) on Thursday inspected the Musi river and the nalas flowing into it from Attapur and Moosarambagh on the directions of the high court. GHMC and HMDA were asked to submit a report to the court about the points of sewage entry into the Musi by November 30. Senior officials including GHMC commissioner Somesh Kumar and HMWSSB MD Syamala Rao were present during the inspection. The officials inspected removal of encroachments along the river besides the sewage interception and treatment. HMWS&SB has taken up half of the proposed interception treatment works and funds for the remaining work are awaited from National River Conservation Board. The GHMC commissioner also directed officials of the bio-diversity wing to beautify the entire stretch along the river. Source - TOI - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/GHMC-Water-Board-officials-inspect-Musi-river/articleshow/2

Boy drowns in city corporation's swimming pool

MANGALORE: A 13 year-old boy drowned in Mangalore City Corporation Swimming pool. The boy was taken to hospital immediately, but the doctors declared him brought dead. The deceased has been identified as Sohan (13), a student and resident of Boloor in the city. Eyewitnesses told TOI that the boy, who was not proficient in swimming, lost balance and started sinking. Seeing him screaming for help, the swimming pool staff and others swung into action and fished him out of the pond immediately. He was taken to a nearby hospital in a car. Since, his condition was serious, the boy was later taken to AJ Hospital. Sources in AJ Hospital told TOI that the boy was brought dead. Barke police registered a case. Source - TOI - timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mangalore/Boy-drowns-in-city-corporations-swimming-pool/articleshow/24709876.cms

Two-year-old drowns in swimming pool at Parra hotel

MAPUSA: A two-year-old boy met a watery grave after he drowned in a hotel's swimming pool in Parra on October 20. Police officials said a group of families had come to the state on a vacation from Bangalore and were staying in a hotel at Parra. Sources said there were 17 children in the group. While some of the families were relaxing in the hotel on Sunday, the two-year-old fell into the pool unnoticed and drowned. On noticing their son's absence, the parents began a frantic search for him, only to find his body in the pool. The police have conducted a panchanama and have sent the body to the Goa medical college and hospital in Bambolim for the postmortem. Police have registered a case of unnatural death under Section 174 CrPC. Further investigations are under way. Source - TOI - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Two-year-old-drowns-in-swimming-pool-at-Parra-hotel/articleshow/24505854.cms

Teenager drowns in swimming pool

INDORE: A teenager drowned in the newly-constructed government swimming pool in Ratlam district on Sunday. Raghvendra Singh Paliwal, 17, the son of a local businessman Sanjay Prasad Paliwal drowned while swimming in the newly constructed pool at Rajiv Gandhi Civic Centre. The incident happened at around 12.10 pm, when Raghvendra had gone to swim with friends at the swimming pool operated by Ratlam Municipal Corporation. It's the same swimming pool, which was inaugurated a few weeks ago by chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. It is still not clear how Raghvendra slipped into deep waters and drowned in the pool, despite the presence of swimming coaches and life guards at the poll. Also, the incident was spotted by Raghvendra's friends and not the coach or life guard at the swimming pool. Angered by the incident, local residents and opposition Congress activists led by party's city unit president Rajesh Sharma protested outside the swimming pool and even tried t

Hauz Khas eateries plan joint effluent plant

NEW DELHI: You can have a taste of Himalayan cuisine and a view of the lush deer park from the little restaurants of Hauz Khas Village. A wide variety of cuisine, the backdrop of graffiti, art galleries and alleys of an urban village make it one of the most attractive hangouts in Delhi, even for foreigners. But not many know how these eateries are unsustainably extracting groundwater and are polluting water bodies by discharging untreated waste water into sewers. Customers are against closing these eateries. Instead the agencies should impose strict norms and see that no environmental norms are flouted. "A lot of tourists come here because of its colourful atmosphere and the variety of cuisines. Why close this place completely?" asked Shruti Bagla, who comes here often. Most eateries claimed that they did not know that it was mandatory to take permission from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) before starting a restaurant. "Ours is a small restaur

Sewage water treatment in disarray in Madurai

MADURAI: The sewage water treatment plants constructed by the Madurai Corporation in 2011 in Vellakal and Sakkimangalam areas have not achieved their full capacity, officials in the civic body here admitted. At present, only one fourth of the total sewage water generated in the city is treated at these plants. The rest is released into water bodies like channels, tanks and the Vaigai river, posing health and environmental hazards. The capacity of the Vellakal sewage water treatment plant is 125 million litres per day (MLD) whereas the capacity of the Sakkimangalam plant is 45.7 MLD. These plants were constructed considering the need for the next 30 years. Though, the plants started functioning two-and-a-half years back, all the sewage water generated in the city can't be transferred to the treatment plants. The pipes carrying sewage water from various pumping stations to the treatment plants proportionate to the requirement, have not been modified yet, said sources from t

No water in parts of Satpur and Cidco today

NASHIK: The Nashik Municipal Corporation ( NMC) has announced that water will not be supplied on Thursday in parts of Satpur and Cidco divisions due to maintenance and repair works of water pipelines in the areas. Moreover, water will be supplied with low pressures in these areas of both the divisions on Friday. In Satpur division, water will not be supplied on Thursday in Satpur village, Mahadev Wadi, Swarbaba Nagar, Male areas, Ambad link road, Bhor township, Jadhav sankul, MHADA colony, Sanjiv Nagar, Vanvihar colony, Gangasagar and Parijat Nagar. In Cidco division, water will not be supplied to Rane Nagar, Rajiv Nagar, Pandav Nagari, Prashant Nagar, Anand Nagar, Kala Nagar, Upendra Nagar, Laxmi Nagar, Khutwad Nagar, Govind Nagar, Sadguru Nagar and Khande Mala. Source - TOI -   http://timesofindia. indiatimes.com/city/nashik/No- water-in-parts-of-Satpur-and- Cidco-today/articleshow/ 25347415.cms