MYSORE: Rs 886 crore new water supply project planned for the city from the backwaters of KRS dam under the second phase of JNNURM scheme appears not only "impractical", it is also "unfeasible", according to experts who aired their opinion at a meeting summoned here to discuss pros and cons of the project and its benefits to the city.
It was revealed at the meeting that state urban development department on Saturday submitted a project report on how it will utilize the funds for the drinking water project along with the other details. Experts at the meeting revealed that as per the new project water supply department has been directed to close all the existing 7 water supply points and supply water from a single point .
Based on this the water supply experts have sought permission to set up a pumping station at 3.5 kms on the upstream of Cauvery in the backwaters of KRS dam and supply water from there to city.
Speaking on the project Association of Concerned and Informed Citizens of Mysore (ACICM) convenor M Lakshman said first the idea to accept the shut down of all the existing seven water supply stations itself is wrong and detrimental to the citizens interests and second the pumping station planned on the backwaters is unfeasible and threat to the safety of the KRS dam.
Lakshman said the new pumping station has to lift water from a Jack well built 28m below the normal ground level and to pump water from this point the authorities have to build an underground 600 mts aqua duct passing through the solid underground rock formation.
"Neither water supply authorities have sought the experts opinion on the rock drilling nor they have got clearance from the irrigation department," he pointed out and said drilling of the rock formation to cut the rock to build the Jack well and aqua duct will ultimately pose danger to the dam.
Irrigation expert and retired engineer in chief of state government Vijay Raghavan supporting Lakshman's view said it is foolhardy to think of drilling the rock adjoining the dam to build a Jack well and aqua duct as it is a single rock formation .
It was pointed out that closure of the existing seven pumping stations will make the people to suffer in the event of any snag at the new station as the whole city will depend on a single source . Now if there is any problem in one station the water supply remains unaffected with the other stations making up the loss the meeting was revealed.
It was revealed that the water department officials have kept this project a closely guarded secret for the reasons best known to them and have not consulted the elected representatives or the MCC.
Source - TOI - timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mysore/New-drinking-water-supply-project-for-Mysore-is-faulty-feel-experts/articleshow/27032729.cms
Monday, 9 December 2013
New Pench-IV water plant to cost 72% more
NAGPUR: Amid weak financial condition, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is set to bear additional cost of Rs21 crore on new Pench-IV water treatment plant, which is under construction at Godhni. The cost has increased from approved Rs29.05 crore to Rs50 crore (72%) following inordinate delay in completing the project. Bafflingly, the civic body is constructing the plant on PPP model and will have to pay back the investment made by the operator along with operation and maintenance charges for 10 years.
Mayor Anil Sole along with ruling party leader Pravin Datke, chairman of water works committee Sudhakar Kohle, superintending engineer Prakash Urade and others inspected the project work on Saturday. After the visit, Kohle in a press conference said that Sole has directed the officials to complete the project by January-end. "City will get additional 115 million litres per day (MLD) water with commencement of the plant from February. Around 3.50 lakh population in West, South-West, South and Central Nagpur will be benefited," he said.
On the project cost, Kohle said it was increased to Rs50 crore from Rs30 crore approved earlier. "Project cost escalated due to inordinate delay in the works. The project faced many hurdles, including delay in acquisition of land from farmers, permissions from various departments. However, 90% project is complete," he added.
According to the NMC's monthly progress report of JNNURM projects, the Pench-IV plant is a part of Pench-IV water supply project - part-2 was approved by the centre on December 28, 2006. In fact, the NMC is facing additional cost of Rs48.08 crore on the entire project. The approved cost was Rs61.96 crore and it increased to Rs110.04 crore during the work order stage. According to the report, the project was to be completed in November 2012.
Most shockingly, the water treatment plant too is being constructed on PPP model but it was revealed only now at the press conference by Kohle. "Veolia Water is the PPP operator who will also operate and maintain the plant," he said.
According to details given in the report, the NMC went on to execute the entire Pench-IV water supply project on PPP model but could not receive any response.
A senior NMC official revealed some startling facts behind the PPP project. "The treatment plant will cost Rs50 crore, of which Rs20.33 crore will come from the Centre and state governments. NMC was supposed to spend its share of Rs8.71 crore. Veolia Water will invest the NMC's share and also escalation amount of Rs21 crore. NMC will have to pay back Veolia Water total Rs30 crore in 10 years. Besides, the NMC will also pay Rs30 crore to Veolia Water for operation and maintenance of the plant for 10 years," he said.
Source - TOI - timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/New-Pench-IV-water-plant-to-cost-72-more/articleshow/27040530.cms
Mayor Anil Sole along with ruling party leader Pravin Datke, chairman of water works committee Sudhakar Kohle, superintending engineer Prakash Urade and others inspected the project work on Saturday. After the visit, Kohle in a press conference said that Sole has directed the officials to complete the project by January-end. "City will get additional 115 million litres per day (MLD) water with commencement of the plant from February. Around 3.50 lakh population in West, South-West, South and Central Nagpur will be benefited," he said.
On the project cost, Kohle said it was increased to Rs50 crore from Rs30 crore approved earlier. "Project cost escalated due to inordinate delay in the works. The project faced many hurdles, including delay in acquisition of land from farmers, permissions from various departments. However, 90% project is complete," he added.
According to the NMC's monthly progress report of JNNURM projects, the Pench-IV plant is a part of Pench-IV water supply project - part-2 was approved by the centre on December 28, 2006. In fact, the NMC is facing additional cost of Rs48.08 crore on the entire project. The approved cost was Rs61.96 crore and it increased to Rs110.04 crore during the work order stage. According to the report, the project was to be completed in November 2012.
Most shockingly, the water treatment plant too is being constructed on PPP model but it was revealed only now at the press conference by Kohle. "Veolia Water is the PPP operator who will also operate and maintain the plant," he said.
According to details given in the report, the NMC went on to execute the entire Pench-IV water supply project on PPP model but could not receive any response.
A senior NMC official revealed some startling facts behind the PPP project. "The treatment plant will cost Rs50 crore, of which Rs20.33 crore will come from the Centre and state governments. NMC was supposed to spend its share of Rs8.71 crore. Veolia Water will invest the NMC's share and also escalation amount of Rs21 crore. NMC will have to pay back Veolia Water total Rs30 crore in 10 years. Besides, the NMC will also pay Rs30 crore to Veolia Water for operation and maintenance of the plant for 10 years," he said.
Source - TOI - timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/New-Pench-IV-water-plant-to-cost-72-more/articleshow/27040530.cms
Electricity bill enough to get new water connection
HYDERABAD: Come January 1 and the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply & Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) will simply norms for obtaining new water connections for half-inch (15 mm) domestic pipelines.
"According to the new norm, the applicant can produce a bill issued by the Andhra Pradesh Central Power Distribution Company Ltd (APCPDCL) as proof to get new connection. Till now, the board had been insisting on xerox copies of either the registered sale deed, gift deed, lease deed, house site patta, assessment receipt from GHMC or Aadhaar card as proof. In some cases, the applicants did not possess any of these documents," a senior Water Board official told STOI. With the latest relaxation of norms, the applicant has to only file an affidavit (indemnity bond) on Rs 100 non-judicial stamp paper duly notarized along with the power bill, he said.
Chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, who is also chairman of the Water Board, accorded permission for this relaxation during the recent board meeting. The same relaxation would also be applicable for regularization of illegal connections (15mm). But they would have to pay Rs 300 as service charge, Rs 200 as normal connection charges and unmetered consumption charges for three months at the tariff rate applicable.
In case, tenants want to obtain a new water connection, he/she would have to produce a 'no objection' from the property owner. However, the water connection would be sanctioned and a 'customer account number' generated in the name of the property owner, the official said.
Though the Water Board is not in a position to supply adequate water to its 8.06 lakh customers, they have decided to encourage new connections. The board has been supplying 331 MGD per day against the demand of 340 MGD.
Source - TOI - timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Electricity-bill-enough-to-get-new-water-connection/articleshow/27047155.cms
"According to the new norm, the applicant can produce a bill issued by the Andhra Pradesh Central Power Distribution Company Ltd (APCPDCL) as proof to get new connection. Till now, the board had been insisting on xerox copies of either the registered sale deed, gift deed, lease deed, house site patta, assessment receipt from GHMC or Aadhaar card as proof. In some cases, the applicants did not possess any of these documents," a senior Water Board official told STOI. With the latest relaxation of norms, the applicant has to only file an affidavit (indemnity bond) on Rs 100 non-judicial stamp paper duly notarized along with the power bill, he said.
Chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, who is also chairman of the Water Board, accorded permission for this relaxation during the recent board meeting. The same relaxation would also be applicable for regularization of illegal connections (15mm). But they would have to pay Rs 300 as service charge, Rs 200 as normal connection charges and unmetered consumption charges for three months at the tariff rate applicable.
In case, tenants want to obtain a new water connection, he/she would have to produce a 'no objection' from the property owner. However, the water connection would be sanctioned and a 'customer account number' generated in the name of the property owner, the official said.
Though the Water Board is not in a position to supply adequate water to its 8.06 lakh customers, they have decided to encourage new connections. The board has been supplying 331 MGD per day against the demand of 340 MGD.
Source - TOI - timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Electricity-bill-enough-to-get-new-water-connection/articleshow/27047155.cms
Hike in water rates will affect investments
THANE: Complaining against the recent 31% increase in water rates and rising price of power supplied to industrial units in MIDC area, the Chamber of Small Industry Association has warned that such decisions will discourage investments in the sector in Maharashtra
Source - TOI - timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thane/Hike-in-water-rates-will-affect-investments/articleshow/27008656.cms
Source - TOI - timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thane/Hike-in-water-rates-will-affect-investments/articleshow/27008656.cms
Wednesday, 4 December 2013
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
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
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