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 sewage connections are without occupancy certificate. It will also be applicable to buildings sanctioned by NIT.
While welcoming the new norm, activist Narayan Ahuja said that it should also cover the existing buildings.
"Occupancy certificate is crucial as it is issued only after structural examination by engineers which would ensure safety of the structure and also occupant. Besides, the builder has to comply with all fire safety norms. Wardhane should direct the officials of town planning department not to issue the certificate before compliance of fire safety. Town planning department is famous for sanctioning building plans without ensuring fire NOC which is mandatory," he said.
Stating that new norm would prevent the common man from being cheated by the builders, corporator Parinay Fuke said that sale deed should also not be registered without the occupancy certificate.
"It will help citizens check for occupancy certificate from the builder before purchasing the flats. The engineers and other officials should examine the structures promptly. The New norm should not become another reason for harassing people and there should be prescribed time limit for issuing the certificate," he said.
Builder Prashant Borele said it would help in verifying whether structure was built according to sanctioned plan.
"It becomes a headache for builders in case one later gets notice for any minor changes in the construction. Builders will also benefit as consumers can be convinced easily by showing occupancy certificate. But what about existing buildings? They should also be covered under the new norm," he demanded.
First occupy the occupancy certificate
* Occupancy certificate (OC) is mandatory for occupying any new or revised building according to bylaws
* OC is important as it is issued only after structural examination and verification of fire safety norms
* Over 90% buildings in the city are not having OC, thus violating the norms
* NMC and NIT so far remained mute spectators by not taking any action against the violators
* New norm to come into effect making OC mandatory for water connection and sewage
* Action will be taken against the concerned officials if they release the connections despite lack of certificate
*All will ensure that they get OC as it is almost impossible to live without water and sewage disposal system in place
Source - TOI - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/No-water-sewage-connection-without-occupancy-certificate/articleshow/26600583.cms
Saturday, 30 November 2013
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 protect environment and conserve natural resources. The company is also developing a 28.8 MW of solar plant near Satara in Maharashtra.
Rahul Shah, Chief-BD, Domestic & Renewables, Tata Power, said, "The company has immense emphasis on water conservation and has used various techniques implemented for optimum utilization of resources across plants. Tata Power remains committed to sustainability and endeavours to generate 20-25 per cent of energy through clean energy sources."
The total area available for water harvesting at the site is 944 square metre. At the time of construction of the solar plant, water tanks adding up to 100 KL were constructed. The company said that rain water run-offs from the roofs of the buildings is captured and stored in these existing water tanks. Post the collection of water in tankers, water is being transferred and stored in the storage units.
Source - TOI - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Tata-Power-installs-rain-water-harvesting-system-in-Mithapur/articleshow/26574881.cms
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 protect environment and conserve natural resources. The company is also developing a 28.8 MW of solar plant near Satara in Maharashtra.
Rahul Shah, Chief-BD, Domestic & Renewables, Tata Power, said, "The company has immense emphasis on water conservation and has used various techniques implemented for optimum utilization of resources across plants. Tata Power remains committed to sustainability and endeavours to generate 20-25 per cent of energy through clean energy sources."
The total area available for water harvesting at the site is 944 square metre. At the time of construction of the solar plant, water tanks adding up to 100 KL were constructed. The company said that rain water run-offs from the roofs of the buildings is captured and stored in these existing water tanks. Post the collection of water in tankers, water is being transferred and stored in the storage units.
Source - TOI - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Tata-Power-installs-rain-water-harvesting-system-in-Mithapur/articleshow/26574881.cms
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 the look out for the owner of the tanker and will initiate the process to arrest him.
Sancoale sarpanch Ramakant Borkar said, "We will take action against the tankers being parked in Zuarinagar area and will take up the issue in the panchayat meeting. We will ask the Zuari industries to accommodate their tankers in their premises itself."
Source - TOI - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Contamination-of-water-Cops-book-tanker-owner/articleshow/26548180.cms
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 the look out for the owner of the tanker and will initiate the process to arrest him.
Sancoale sarpanch Ramakant Borkar said, "We will take action against the tankers being parked in Zuarinagar area and will take up the issue in the panchayat meeting. We will ask the Zuari industries to accommodate their tankers in their premises itself."
Source - TOI - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Contamination-of-water-Cops-book-tanker-owner/articleshow/26548180.cms
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 Lehar up as a case study to ascertain the reasons behind the sudden weakening of the system and change in path.
"Lehar can be a good case study for oceanography scientists and meteorologists. We may also start work on it but it will take a couple of weeks to gather data available from all corners of the country, including the IMD and analyze the actual cause behind the sudden changes in the strength of the cyclone and its path," said Dr VSN Murthy, scientist in-charge, National Institute of Oceanography, Vizag Regional Centre.
Meanwhile, Prof OSRU Bhanu Kumar, emeritus professor, Department of Meteorology, Andhra University, said that the activeness of a cyclone largely depends on four conditions, namely sea surface temperature (SST) or warm water in the sea, vertical wind shear (VWS), high level divergence (HLD) and low level convergence (LLC). "If any two of the conditions fail to cooperate, the cyclonic system will get weakened. I think in the case of Lehar, SST and VWS might have failed to favour the cyclone," Bhanu Kumar said, explaining that the sea water needs to be warm for any kind of cyclone to sustain. According to Dr Murthy of NIO, an ocean's SST should be a minimum of 26.5 degree Celsius to maintain the warm core that fuels cyclones. SST is nothing but the water temperature close to the ocean's surface. Similarly, VWS is nothing but a change in wind direction. According to Prof Bhanu Kumar, the VWS should always be lower or weak to strengthen the cyclone system. At the same time, the SST, LLC and HLD should also always be strong or higher for strengthening the activeness of any low pressure or cyclonic system, Bhanu Kumar explained.
"We can't say it was a rare case. It routinely happens in the sea. However, Lehar can be chosen for a case study for young scientists, who are interested in oceanography or meteorology by gathering all the data of the track of the cyclone," Bhanu Kumar added.
Meanwhile, a senior Met official from the Cyclone Warning Centre at Visakhapatnam, said that both Phailin and Helen sustained because of favourable SST conditions. "I feel the chilly weather conditions off and along the coast might have been one of the reasons behind the weakening of the cyclone," the officer said.
Source - TOI - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/visakhapatnam/Lack-of-warm-water-may-have-weakened-Lehar/articleshow/26546308.cms
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 Lehar up as a case study to ascertain the reasons behind the sudden weakening of the system and change in path.
"Lehar can be a good case study for oceanography scientists and meteorologists. We may also start work on it but it will take a couple of weeks to gather data available from all corners of the country, including the IMD and analyze the actual cause behind the sudden changes in the strength of the cyclone and its path," said Dr VSN Murthy, scientist in-charge, National Institute of Oceanography, Vizag Regional Centre.
Meanwhile, Prof OSRU Bhanu Kumar, emeritus professor, Department of Meteorology, Andhra University, said that the activeness of a cyclone largely depends on four conditions, namely sea surface temperature (SST) or warm water in the sea, vertical wind shear (VWS), high level divergence (HLD) and low level convergence (LLC). "If any two of the conditions fail to cooperate, the cyclonic system will get weakened. I think in the case of Lehar, SST and VWS might have failed to favour the cyclone," Bhanu Kumar said, explaining that the sea water needs to be warm for any kind of cyclone to sustain. According to Dr Murthy of NIO, an ocean's SST should be a minimum of 26.5 degree Celsius to maintain the warm core that fuels cyclones. SST is nothing but the water temperature close to the ocean's surface. Similarly, VWS is nothing but a change in wind direction. According to Prof Bhanu Kumar, the VWS should always be lower or weak to strengthen the cyclone system. At the same time, the SST, LLC and HLD should also always be strong or higher for strengthening the activeness of any low pressure or cyclonic system, Bhanu Kumar explained.
"We can't say it was a rare case. It routinely happens in the sea. However, Lehar can be chosen for a case study for young scientists, who are interested in oceanography or meteorology by gathering all the data of the track of the cyclone," Bhanu Kumar added.
Meanwhile, a senior Met official from the Cyclone Warning Centre at Visakhapatnam, said that both Phailin and Helen sustained because of favourable SST conditions. "I feel the chilly weather conditions off and along the coast might have been one of the reasons behind the weakening of the cyclone," the officer said.
Source - TOI - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/visakhapatnam/Lack-of-warm-water-may-have-weakened-Lehar/articleshow/26546308.cms
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 phases I and II that have iron pipelines and joints. But phases III and IV have concrete pipelines and rings are used at their joints to connect pipes. So, these have high chances of leakage. Supply at full pressure can damage these. The recent water woes that hit the city were because of leakage of concrete pipelines," said a senior officer of MC engineering wing.
Source - TOI - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Water-woes-are-likely-to-continue/articleshow/26544877.cms
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 phases I and II that have iron pipelines and joints. But phases III and IV have concrete pipelines and rings are used at their joints to connect pipes. So, these have high chances of leakage. Supply at full pressure can damage these. The recent water woes that hit the city were because of leakage of concrete pipelines," said a senior officer of MC engineering wing.
Source - TOI - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Water-woes-are-likely-to-continue/articleshow/26544877.cms
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