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Showing posts from August, 2014

Water-borne diseases spreading in Manda, Koraon blocks

Supply of contaminated water is the key reason behind spreading of water-borne diseases in villages falling under Manda and Koraon blocks. Health teams visited several villages after death of eight children and revealed that villagers have no source to get pure and fresh potable water. Majority of villagers are drawing potable water from wells which were not cleaned for decades. At Barwari Kala village, villagers are forced to drink contaminated water from wells frogs are present. Resentment is brewing among people against the failure of district authorities to arrange pure potable water as they have been forced to drink contaminated water from wells or handpumps. This has also led to a rise in water-borne diseases. Health department officials claimed to have distributed chlorine tablets on Friday. Villagers complained about lack of water resources. They claimed that they are solely relying on wells and old handpumps. The villagers were not more cautious to detect impuritie

How to avoid water retention

Do you often feel like you've gained a few inches overnight, especially around the abdomen, or your limbs? That the rings you were wearing comfortably till yesterday are suddenly becoming tighter? Are your regular shoes digging into the skin? IS IT WATER RETENTION? Well, all of these symptoms are a true indicator of water retention or edema. Most people retain some amount of water, which is fairly normal. However, women tend to retain more water because of the hormonal fluctuations in their bodies during premenstrual syndrome (PMS). While PMS is a major cause of water retention among women, this phenomenon can also be a symptom of serious underlying health complications, like kidney diseases, thyroid, heart or liver malfunction etc. DRINK MORE TO FLUSH MORE One of the most paradoxical but effective ways to deal with water retention is to give your body ample fluid intake in the day. Here's the logic - the more water you drink, the more your body will flush out. The

Parts of UP under flood water, while others face long dry phase

LUCKNOW: The crests and troughs in rainfall patterns have triggered a dual problem of floods and drought in parts of Uttar Pradesh. Even as several districts along the IndoNepal border are recovering from floods, 12 districts of West and East UP are reeling under drought-like conditions. Though UP government has not officially declared drought yet, officials of the agriculture department confirmed sowing of paddy was delayed in some parts due to delayed scanty rains. In West UP , chief PRO, Ganna Sansthan, B S Bisht, said, "On the basis of GPS mapping conducted this year, sugarcane acerage in UP reduced by 6.4%. This may be attributed, partially, to rainfall deficit."  According to official data, acerage has reduced drastically in the Meerut division, by 11.4%, while the fall in the Moradabad and Saharanpur divisions is by 4.2% and 0.5% respectively . The impact of this reduction on yield, Bisht said, is not known yet as the survey is yet to be conducted.  Accordi

Water board deputes ex-army men to collect over Rs 1,000 crore dues

HYDERABAD: The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB), which failed to recover nearly Rs 1,000 crores from defaulters, has now roped in ex-servicemen to collect the arrears.  According to water board records, 3.27 lakh defaulters have been identified and 'red notices' served on 2.72 lakh to collect nearly Rs 1,000 crore dues. However, so far, less than10,000 defaulters have come forward to clear their dues after water board officials threatened to register cases and seize assets. Though the water board has a separate 'vigilance team' headed by a former army officer, they were unable to cover the entire city and peripheral municipal circles.  "It has become a tough task to collect dues worth Rs 1,000 crore from chronic defaulters. We have constituted 'vigilance task force' (VTF) teams in each operation and maintenance (O&M) division to collect dues. The water board had deputed VTF teams in divisions IX (KPHB Colony,

Water tariff agenda too on the cards

CHANDIGARH: Deferred in the last house meeting owing to time crunch, water tariff agenda is coming up for detailed discussion on Friday. According to the new plan, the civic body has revised the plan by enhancing the tariff to curtail the misuse of water in northern area of the city. If MC passes the revised tariff plan, then the authority will be able to earn a revenue of Rs 36.30 crore more. The MC has analyzed last one year's data of all consumers under MC and concluded: "There are 1,50,000 water meter connections across categories such as domestic, lawn, commercial, semi-commercial, institutional, government, industrial, etc. in the city. It has been found that out of 1.2 lacs consumers of domestic category, about 13,760 consumers are having water consumption more than 60 kl per month, which is much higher than the normal water consumption. Further, the analysis shows that consumption is more in northern sectors as compared to the other sectors and some sectors?2,

13 illegal water connections discontinued in Rajkot city

RAJKOT: In order to maintain the water distribution smooth in the city, Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) has launched a drive to find out illegal water connections and electric motors which are being used to pump waters in different parts of the city. According RMC officials, on Thursday, 13 such illegal residential water connections in Kasturi residency in ward number 13 were disconnected by RMC's water works department.  Earlier, over 100 illegal water connections have been disconnected by RMC in last two months. "We were receiving complaints of irregular water supply from some parts of the city. So we launched a drive to check smooth water distribution. Electric motors are not allowed to draw water. So, we also seize electric motors if we found them in water drawing in our drive'' said an official from Water works department. Read more here - TOI -  http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/13-illegal-water-connections-discontinued-in-Rajkot-city/arti

Plastic waste may trigger water bombs in Himalayas

Unfortunately, this is the ugly truth of the Himalayas. The heap, which includes biodegradable plastic, can be found just four kilometres from Shimla in the reserved forest of Lalpani. And this is not an isolated pocket either. The amount of plastic and other bio-degradable waste in the Himalayas is growing at an alarming rate and wreaking havoc with this fragile ecosystem. Trekkers and tourists have become litterbugs, who don't think before tossing a juice can or wafer wrapper by the mountainside.  To save the fragile ecology of Himalayas, the Himachal Pradesh government on October 2, 2009, banned the use, storage, sale and distribution of all types of polythene bags. On October 2, 2011, the government imposed blanket ban on the use and storage of nonbiodegradable disposable plastic cups, plates and glasses and warned that violators would be fined up to Rs 5,000. Himachal Pradesh was the first to ban plastic and polythene bags. This photograph is, however, proof that the law i

New water system empowers tribal women across villages

VISAKHAPATNAM: Till about a year ago, 12-year-old B Madhavi, V Bharathi and Anjali Kumari had to trudge along the hilly terrain to fetch drinking water in metal pots from a stream nearly two to three kilometres away from their homes, not once but three to four times a day instead of attending school. Of course, the mucky water they collected for drinking purposes required no lab test to tell how contaminated it was considering that washing, cleaning and morning ablutions were all done in the same spring water, leading to various health and sanitation problems. But today, thanks to the efforts of a non-governmental organization, Visakha Jilla Nava Nirmana Samithi (VJNNS) they are back at school. VJNNS with support from NGO Arghyam, which was founded by IT tsar Nandan Nilekani's wife Rohini Nilekani, has provided 3,798 households in 62 remote villages across four tribal mandals of Vizag -- Chintapalli, GK Veedhi, Koyyuru and G Madugula ? access to 24X7 safe and sustainable wa

Goa govt announces new sewage pipeline from Arlem to Sirvodem

Porvorim:  Fatorda independent MLA Vijai Sardesai slammed the PWD for failure to address the problem of "raw sewage" spilling in to fields along the 9km stretch from Arlem to Sirvodem, prompting PWD minister Ramkrishna 'Sudin' Dhavalikar that work on a new pipeline will begin there this year and work will be completed byMarch 2016. In his starred question, Sardesai said that the 9km stretch from Arlem to Sirvodem had "springs" of raw sewage spilling in to the fields. "Forget farmers, not even cattle will go there," Sardesai said. Reminding of past assurances given of estimates being prepared, Sardesai demanded to know when the work would start. He said there was a "lake of sewage" there, creating a huge problem of pollution. Read more here - TOI -  http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Goa-govt-announces-new-sewage-pipeline-from-Arlem-to-Sirvodem/articleshow/40211567.cms

Drains clogged, sewage floods roads

GHAZIABAD: Monsoons may not have hit Ghaziabad with all their ferocity, but the showers have been enough to overwhelm the city's drainage system. Waterlogging in Vasundhara, Vaishali and Indirapuram has pushed the spotlight on outdated and poorly-maintained drains, about which complaints by residents have so far fallen on deaf ears. Sangeeta Sharma, a resident of Paradiso Apartment in Ahimsa Khand 2, said, " Sewage water flows back into our area because there's no proper drainage system. I have lodged complaints with the GDA but no action has been taken yet." A few residents believe the inadequate drainage system is not the only problem that needs to be addressed. "Yes, water-logging is a major problem, but not the only one. Littering of non-biodegradable garbage such as polythene is the real culprit. GDA needs to clean the drains regularly, which is not happening," said Ekta Chauhan, a teacher at DPS Indirapuram. Read more here - TOI -  http://timesofind

Tamil Nadu to set up sewage plant at Kodungaiyur

CHENNAI: Chief minister J Jayalalithaa on Friday announced a series of integrated drinking water projects for water-starved Tamil Nadu. Making suo motu announcements in the state assembly, she said her government would implement six integrated drinking water schemes totalling 1,672 crore.  To meet growing water needs of industries in Manali and Minjur in North Chennai, she announced setting up a 45mld sewage recycling plant at Kodungaiyur at 255 crore to serve industries and power generation stations.  She said a rainwater drainage system covering expanded areas under Chennai Corporation would be implemented at 1,101.43 crore, even as a project report had been prepared for a massive integrated drainage system estimated at 4,034 crore for the city. Read more here  - TOI -  http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Tamil-Nadu-to-set-up-sewage-plant-at-Kodungaiyur/articleshow/39908517.cms

The capital city's open 'sewage line'

PANAJI: In 2005, a new, 12.5-million-litres-per-day sewerage treatment plant (STP) at Tonca raised hopes for a dying St Inez creek. Almost a decade later, the creek continues to be stifled by sewage from households along its route and, as citizens allege, from the plant itself. Till almost a decade ago, the old 4.5mld plant of the late 1960s had to cough out raw sewage into the 3.6km-water body, as the plant's capacity had proved inadequate to cope with the capital city's needs. Today, a sizeable output from households unable to link to the central sewerage line and hutments without privy facilities are contributing significantly to the pollution of the creek. Citizens allege that the new plant itself is releasing massive quantities of sewage into the creek and this is done clandestinely at night. "It is easy to blame slum-dwellers for releasing sewage into the creek or defecating in it, but it is the STP, which clandestinely releases sewage into it," alleges Savio F

Faulty connection spews sewage on road in Pimple Saudagar

PUNE: Overflowing manholes on a road near Challenger Public School in Pimple Saudagar are causing waterlogging besides giving out unbearably foul smell. Machindra Kale, who lives in a housing society nearby, said the problem is not new. "The drainage line overflows every year after a heavy spell of rain. This year, it has been happening for the last 15 days or more. If you look carefully, one of the manhole covers has been deliberately kept open. It looks like the pipeline cannot bear the load of the sewage that flows through it," said Kale, who has stopped taking his grandson out for a walk because of the mess and the foul smell. The leakage poses health challenge not only for the school and a multispecialty hospital nearby, but also for several multi-storeyed premium housing societies located on the road adjacent to the new road. Read more here - TOI -  http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Faulty-connection-spews-sewage-on-road-in-Pimple-Saudagar/articleshow/3971

Jusco starts auto sewage pumping & control system

JAMSHEDPUR: Jamshedpur Utilities and Services Company (Jusco) has implemented an automated sewage pumping and control system in the city in a first of its kind attempts to save water and energy as well prevent pollution due to real-time information availability. With 24 hours and seven day sewage pumping system and services, the company has introduced a system that can control and monitor all the 10 sewage pumping stations through internet-enabled supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA). The city-based utility services firm Jusco maintains 10 sewage pumping stations which convey the city's sewage to two sewage treatment plants located at Bara and Bistupur, respectively. Read more here - TOI -  http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ranchi/Jusco-starts-auto-sewage-pumping-control-system/articleshow/39400297.cms

National Ganga River Basin Authority approves sewage treatment plant at Bithoor

KANPUR: A team of National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) met the officials of Kanpur Development Authority on Wednesday evening and expressed interest in the River Front Development Project. NGRBA team had also approved a proposal to set up a sewage treatment plant at Bithoor which will cost Rs 60 crores. The KDA team demonstrated its ambitious River Front Development project of Rs 300 crores before the visiting team. The NGRBA team asked KDA to give proposal of the first phase in which the bank between Ganga Barrage and Bhairoghat had to be developed. The KDA apprised the team that under this project, vacant land along the 11-km long bank from Ganga Barrage to Jajmau would be developed as picnic spot and entertainment parks. The team was told that construction of pathways, picnic spots on vacant land and road to access river along with parking lot would be developed under the project. Read more here - TOI -  http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kanpur/National-Ga

6 sewage plants to be set up as first step in Ganga cleaning

NEW DELHI : Kicking off the process to implement its ambitious clean Ganga mission, the Centre has sanctioned six new sewage treatment plants (STPs) for different cities and towns along the river in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal. These STPs, cleared under the national mission for clean Ganga (NMCG), will come up in Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh; Beur, Karmalichak and Saidpur (Patna) in Bihar and Budge Budge and Barrackpore in West Bengal at an estimated cost of Rs 1058 crore. Thus the environment ministry has set the ball rolling by clearing these six plants\networks which will treat over 113 million litres per day (MLD) of sewage.  There are a number of other plans lined up for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pet project, which are to be announced in due course after studying the feasibility reports.  "These new plants will add up the capacity to treat sewage in these cities\towns. The Centre will bear 70% of the cost of these new projects," said the envi

PWD plan for waste water use at construction site

Panaji: When residents of two buildings in Campal flush their toilets in the near future, they need not feel a sense of guilt at tossing the state's precious resources down the drain. If all goes well, PWD will pipe a small quantity of the 12.5 million litres daily (mld) of effluent water available at the sewage treatment (STP) at Tonca to the site where the two buildings are coming up for productive use, instead of flushing it wastefully into the Mandovi river. Later, this pipeline to the construction site will be useful to supply water to the flats in the two buildings for flushing of toilets. "We are in the process of floating a tender to lay a pipeline to Campal to allow the use of the water at the construction site," PWD executive engineer, Dilip Dhavalikar said. PWD officials have claimed in the past that the STP effluent water is good enough for drinking. "The coliform and e coli parameters are important and they have to be nil. If the water

Water tanks to be built for Bhama Askhed project

THANE: The Thane water polo team had to be content with silver at the state championship against host Pune that won 12-6. "We gave our best but the defense line of the Pune team was much stronger, which thwarted us to get into the net. We had to be content with the runners-up title," said Uday Uttekar, a leading player from Thane. Read more here - TOI -  http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thane/Silver-medal-for-Thanes-water-polo-team-at-state-championship/articleshow/40287753.cms

Water tanks to be built for Bhama Askhed project

PUNE: The standing committee of  Pune municipal corporation has given approval for building seven water storage tanks as part of the scheme to procure water from  BhamaAskhed  dam for the city. "Total seven tanks are to be built to start with. The tanks will be built in different areas on the Ahmednagar road. These areas include Kalas, Dhanori, Vadgaonsheri, Yerawada, Wagholi and Kharadi," said Bapu Karne, chairman of the standing committee. The committee took the decision in a meeting  on Tuesday .  The Bhama Askhed project will have a 42-km pipeline from the dam to the Pune Municipal Corporation limits. Two km of the pipeline will be on private property. According to a government resolution, 1.3 TMC water from Bhama Askhed has been allocated to PMC to meet its drinking water needs. Read more here - TOI -  http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Water-tanks-to-be-built-for-Bhama-Askhed-project/articleshow/40266027.cms

Marathwada suffers worst water crisis

AURANGABAD: Marathwada is the only region in the state which is being supplemented with hundreds of water tankers in the midst of the monsoon this year. As many as 559 villages and 365 hamlets from across the 76 talukas of the eight districts in the region are being supplied drinking water through tankers now. Read more here - TOI -  http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/aurangabad/Marathwada-suffers-worst-water-crisis/articleshow/40251824.cms