MADURAI: A one-day workshop on rainwater harvesting and grey water recycling was organized for the municipal officials and builders in the city on Friday.
The objective behind holding the workshop was to sensitise the officials and builders in promoting rainwater harvesting methods and grey water recycling methods in the town planning since the ground water level is depleting at an alarming level. Harnessing the ground water as the complete source of water is a wrong concept and deep bore wells will pump out the unfit water, experts said.
The rainwater will percolate only up to shallow water table but the bore wells are sunk to deep water table which will exhaust after some time. The shallow water table has to be harnessed and recharged with the rain water for which the open well system will be very useful, Sekhar Raghavan, director of Rain Centre, Chennai advocated. The open well system is superior to rainfall pits since the latter will get silted in two years time and could not be de-silted easily. "We are promoting to maintain the open wells and not to abandon such wells which were the important source of water once. The open wells will be beneficial to recharge the shallow water table as well," he said.
J Kanagavalli of DHAN foundation said that there is an urgent need to harness the rainwater for the drinking water needs of the city. Madurai city, once rich with temple tanks and village tanks is fast losing its water bodies and efforts should be taken to sensitise the public and officials on rainwater harvesting and grey water recycling, she said.
The workshop was held at DHAN foundation and 36 participated and most of them were the town planning officials from Madurai region that consists of various municipalities like Sivaganga, Bodi, Theni, Dindigul, Ramanathapuram, Rameswaram. Representatives from Builders Association of India also participated.
V Ramachandran, former president of the association said that the rainwater harvesting should be established in letter and spirit. "Most of the establishments and buildings are provided rainwater harvesting facilities for namesake. We are taking efforts to sensitise our customers but there should be large scale public awareness measures in this regard," he said.
The workshop was organized by ARGHYAM, a Bangalore-based NGO working on water and sanitation projects. The organization has sponsored 15 workshops across the state and six such workshops were held in Chennai itself. Coimbatore, Trichy and Madurai were planned with three workshops each and they are holding the second workshop in Madurai itself, said Raghavan.
Source - TOI - timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/madurai/Officials-builders-sensitised-on-RWH-grey-water-recycling/articleshow/27317676.cms
Sunday, 15 December 2013
Mother throws two sons in water tank, jumps to death
JAIPUR: The bodies of 25-year-old Champa Kanwar and her two sons were found floating in a water tank near her in-laws' house in Bhankrota area's Sirsi village on Friday. Police said prima-facie, the woman had thrown her children aged 4 and 2 years into the tank and then plunged into it. The police are yet to ascertain as to why she took the extreme step.
Champa lived with her husband, two kids and her in-laws. "Bodies of Champa and her children were found floating in the water tank of an under-construction building near her house in the village. By the time the police reached, the villagers and family members had fished out the bodies," said the officer.
Police said prima-facie, it seems Champa had committed suicide.
Source - TOI - timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Mother-throws-two-sons-in-water-tank-jumps-to-death/articleshow/27317036.cms
Champa lived with her husband, two kids and her in-laws. "Bodies of Champa and her children were found floating in the water tank of an under-construction building near her house in the village. By the time the police reached, the villagers and family members had fished out the bodies," said the officer.
Police said prima-facie, it seems Champa had committed suicide.
Source - TOI - timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Mother-throws-two-sons-in-water-tank-jumps-to-death/articleshow/27317036.cms
Kozhikode corporation collects water samples
KOZHIKODE: The Kozhikode corporation (health-wing) has started collecting water samples from sources situated in the premises of marriage halls following reports of hepatitis A outbreak in the corporation limit.
The civic body decided to act after councillors protested in the council meeting held on December 10 for not taking any steps to check the quality of drinking water at marriage functions.
Hepatitis A cases have been reported from Mugadhar, Pallikandy and Kuttichira. The health inspectors will submit the report at a meeting to be held at the corporation on December 16 to chalk out remedial measures. More than 50 cases of hepatitis A have been reported in the three wards of the corporation so far. The health wing has also started intensive awareness campaign on the need of drinking hot water along with chlorination process of wells in these areas.
According to State level Integrated Diseases Surveillance report, the district had reported 1,782 hepatitis A cases.
Janamma Kunjunni, corporation health standing committee chairperson said that the health inspectors have asked to submit the report of water samples taken from marriage halls on December 16.
"The hepatitis A cases were reported due to the mixing of drinking water with drainage water as the KWA drinking pipeline is passing through drainages at Kundungal, Kuttichira, Parappil, Mugadhar and Pallikandy. The issue can be solved only if the KWA replaces the old pipelines laid 40 years ago to supply drinking water. Public should take steps to consume the water only after boiling it, which is the major reason for the spread of hepatitis A,'' said Kunjunni. While deputy mayor P T Abdul Latheef said that the civic body will seek the help of experts at the Centre for Water Resources Development and Management in case of an emergency.
Refuting the claim of the city corporation, Kerala Water Authority executive engineer M Hameed said the assistant executive engineer already conducted site visit and preliminary information revealed that there was no leakage on drinking water pipelines. "KWA has taken water samples from the said areas to test the quality of water and to confirm whether the mixing of drinking water with drainage water occurred or not,'' he said.
Source - TOI - timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kozhikode/Kozhikode-corporation-collects-water-samples/articleshow/27316790.cms
The civic body decided to act after councillors protested in the council meeting held on December 10 for not taking any steps to check the quality of drinking water at marriage functions.
Hepatitis A cases have been reported from Mugadhar, Pallikandy and Kuttichira. The health inspectors will submit the report at a meeting to be held at the corporation on December 16 to chalk out remedial measures. More than 50 cases of hepatitis A have been reported in the three wards of the corporation so far. The health wing has also started intensive awareness campaign on the need of drinking hot water along with chlorination process of wells in these areas.
According to State level Integrated Diseases Surveillance report, the district had reported 1,782 hepatitis A cases.
Janamma Kunjunni, corporation health standing committee chairperson said that the health inspectors have asked to submit the report of water samples taken from marriage halls on December 16.
"The hepatitis A cases were reported due to the mixing of drinking water with drainage water as the KWA drinking pipeline is passing through drainages at Kundungal, Kuttichira, Parappil, Mugadhar and Pallikandy. The issue can be solved only if the KWA replaces the old pipelines laid 40 years ago to supply drinking water. Public should take steps to consume the water only after boiling it, which is the major reason for the spread of hepatitis A,'' said Kunjunni. While deputy mayor P T Abdul Latheef said that the civic body will seek the help of experts at the Centre for Water Resources Development and Management in case of an emergency.
Refuting the claim of the city corporation, Kerala Water Authority executive engineer M Hameed said the assistant executive engineer already conducted site visit and preliminary information revealed that there was no leakage on drinking water pipelines. "KWA has taken water samples from the said areas to test the quality of water and to confirm whether the mixing of drinking water with drainage water occurred or not,'' he said.
Source - TOI - timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kozhikode/Kozhikode-corporation-collects-water-samples/articleshow/27316790.cms
MPT says no to Mhadei water diversion
PANAJI: Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) officials opposed the diversion of the Mhadei river as it will affect the economy of the state and lead to siltation in Rivers Mandovi and Zuari.
The Mhadei water dispute tribunal team on Friday visited MPT to seek its view on the diversion of River Mhadei. Speaking to TOI, MPT chairman Mara Pandiyan said that they explained to the team that the total iron ore movement to the ports is done through these two main rivers of the state. "Any curtailment of the water level will certainly affect the navigation of barges coming to ports," he added. Pandiyan also said "We have strongly opposed any diversion of water from the Mhadei basin."
Source - TOI - timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/MPT-says-no-to-Mhadei-water-diversion/articleshow/27315804.cms
The Mhadei water dispute tribunal team on Friday visited MPT to seek its view on the diversion of River Mhadei. Speaking to TOI, MPT chairman Mara Pandiyan said that they explained to the team that the total iron ore movement to the ports is done through these two main rivers of the state. "Any curtailment of the water level will certainly affect the navigation of barges coming to ports," he added. Pandiyan also said "We have strongly opposed any diversion of water from the Mhadei basin."
Source - TOI - timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/MPT-says-no-to-Mhadei-water-diversion/articleshow/27315804.cms
NHAI work hits water, sewage system on Koradi Road
NAGPUR: Hundreds of families residing in Zingabai Takli and adjoining localities have been left to face a number of problems due to improper planning and lack of coordination between Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) and National Highway Authority of India (NHAI). Water supply to the localities has been hit every other day and the sewage system has been destroyed due to the construction of railway overbridge (RoB) from Mankapur Ring Road Square to the railway crossing. No precautions have been taken to protect the civic infrastructure during digging and other works, say residents.
Corporator Arun Daware lodged a complaint with municipal commissioner Shyam Wardhane on Friday, requesting action against NHAI for depriving citizens of basic amenities and destruction of civic property. Alleging that NHAI's adamant attitude is causing serious inconvenience to around 30,000 citizens, Daware told TOI that the drinking water pipeline has been damaged at least 70 times in the 400 meter stretch from Mankapur Ring Road Square to the railway crossing.
"Citizens are forced to manage without water for two-three days almost every week as repair works take time. Another major problem is damage to sewage system. Ponds of sewage water can be seen in many spots due to the damaged sewage lines, causing mosquito menace and foul smell," he said.
Describing the brazen violations, Daware said the NHAI contractor has blocked a big nullah crossing Koradi Road resulting in a lake of sewage water there. "The contractor laid three pipes of two feet width to clear the nullah water. However, the water has stagnated there and accumulated in one spot, resulting in spread of vector-borne diseases. I lodged complaints with NHAI and also NMC many times in the past, but no one has paid any attention. The civic chief requested the district administration to take action against NHAI under disaster management rules, but those directions remain on paper. I will move the court if this continues," he said.
Source - TOI - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/NHAI-work-hits-water-sewage-system-on-Koradi-Road/articleshow/27315779.cms
Corporator Arun Daware lodged a complaint with municipal commissioner Shyam Wardhane on Friday, requesting action against NHAI for depriving citizens of basic amenities and destruction of civic property. Alleging that NHAI's adamant attitude is causing serious inconvenience to around 30,000 citizens, Daware told TOI that the drinking water pipeline has been damaged at least 70 times in the 400 meter stretch from Mankapur Ring Road Square to the railway crossing.
"Citizens are forced to manage without water for two-three days almost every week as repair works take time. Another major problem is damage to sewage system. Ponds of sewage water can be seen in many spots due to the damaged sewage lines, causing mosquito menace and foul smell," he said.
Describing the brazen violations, Daware said the NHAI contractor has blocked a big nullah crossing Koradi Road resulting in a lake of sewage water there. "The contractor laid three pipes of two feet width to clear the nullah water. However, the water has stagnated there and accumulated in one spot, resulting in spread of vector-borne diseases. I lodged complaints with NHAI and also NMC many times in the past, but no one has paid any attention. The civic chief requested the district administration to take action against NHAI under disaster management rules, but those directions remain on paper. I will move the court if this continues," he said.
Source - TOI - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/NHAI-work-hits-water-sewage-system-on-Koradi-Road/articleshow/27315779.cms
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