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 is totally ineffective.

Read more here - TOI - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/pollution/Plastic-waste-may-trigger-water-bombs-in-Himalayas/articleshow/41053304.cms

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 water supply at their doorstep, 365 days a year, through the Neeru-Aaroghyam project.

Incidentally, availability of potable water has been a perpetual problem in the tribal areas of Vizag. And though successive governments have announced water projects but they failed to materialize as these require uninterrupted power supply. The beauty of the seven-step VJNNS water supply system is that the gravity-fed water supply system (GFWSS) requires no power or electricity.

Read more here - TOI - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/visakhapatnam/New-water-system-empowers-tribal-women-across-villages/articleshow/41049165.cms

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://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/noida/Drains-clogged-sewage-floods-roads/articleshow/40082099.cms

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