An anxious wait for rain continues in the world famous birds' country, Keoladeo National Park (KNP), near Bharatpur in Rajasthan as rain gods have not exactly smiled on the marshes this season yet. Monsoon showers mean everything to the 29 sq. km park, a World Heritage site, as the nesting and breeding of a large number of bird species totally depends on inundation of the marshes and the arrival of fingerlings which form the food for the newborn and the parents.
The wait is not by the hooting, cackling, winging avian force alone as the stake holders include rickshaw pullers doubling as naturalists in the park, hoteliers, vehicle operators and thousands of other people in the Keoladeo surroundings who survive on as well as live with them. The Forest Fepartment authorities, for whom arranging for the annul intake of 550 million cubic feet (MCFT) water to the park has become a herculean task year after year of late, are keeping their fingers crossed on the season's breeding prospects.
“We are still hoping that the park will get water in the next fortnight. If that does not happen, the birds now waiting in the newly built nests would abandon their homes and leave the place,” says Anoop K.R., Field Director of the Park. Early breeders -- Open billed stork, Cormorant, Egret, Darter, White Ibis, Grey heron: in a good year their numbers could be legion -- who start arriving in the park by the end of June are ensconced in the nests and the signal would be the next gush of big waters into the park.
Then there are Spoon bills, Painted storks, Spot bill, Comb duck, Cotton teal, Bronze winged jacana, Purple moorhen… It is during the monsoon that the heronry, terrestrial birds and ungulates alike come alive and celebrate the season of creation.
Of late the water supply to the park, once a duck shooting ground for the rulers of Bharatpur State and their guests, has been erratic. Increasing the height of the Panchana dam in Karauli district without fixing a minimum share of water to the Keoladeo marshes some time back is now proving a big mistake on the part of the planners. The farmers in the upstream area are resisting release of the water and the authorities are afraid to act -- for birds do not have votes, as famously said by a Bharatpur politician once.
There had been some efforts by the Rajasthan Government in the past to help the park overcome its water crisis -- which has also put a question mark over its continuing in the Heritage list. The State Board for Wildlife has already passed a resolution recommending an annul quota for KNP from Panchana, fed by the rivers, Ghambir and Banganga.
Work is in progress on the 17.1 km Govardhan Drain project which is expected to harness flood waters from a 70 km area in the neighbouring States of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana as well. However, this project, funded by the Planning Commission, will be ready only for the nest season -- in 2013. A 3.6 km water inlet -- Chiksana Canal -- built recently at a cost of Rs. 41 lakhs, is to bring in 50 MCFT water.
The previous season (2010-11) was good with 700-800 pairs breeding in Keoladeo while the preceding year was a disaster with park missing its chicks. The year 2008-09 too had witnessed good breeding – more than 1,000 nests, as per Mr. Anoop's estimate -- while there is a question mark on the current season.
The rainy season for east Rajasthan is from July to September but then the birds are not going to wait eternally for their home-making. “If the park is not flooded in another week we can only hope for action from the late breeders such as Spoon bills and Painted storks,” says Mr. Anoop.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
MCD blames Delhi Govt. over water contamination (The Hindu 03 August 2011)
Civic body has been updating the CM on the issue'
In the wake of the National Human Rights Commission's action in asking Delhi Jal Board chairman and Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit to explain the measures being taken to supply potable drinking water in the city in the wake of the water contamination controversy, the BJP-led Municipal Corporation of Delhi also hit out at the State Government on Tuesday.
MCD Leader of House Subhash Arya said: “The MCD is already concerned about the ill-effects of dirty water on the health of Delhiites and now the NHRC has also expressed its concern over the fact. The Commission has stated clearly that it is the right of the citizens to get clean drinking water and it is the responsibility of the Government to provide clean drinking water to them. The Delhi Government has completely failed in fulfilling its responsibility.”
The MCD on Tuesday said its health department on its own and jointly with the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has been taking samples of water and apprising the DJB about the findings.
Mr. Arya said: “Dr. V.K. Monga, chairman of MCD Medical Relief and Public Health Committee, has been time and again updating the Delhi Chief Minister on the outcome of these samples. However, he has not yet got a reply. On the ground level, it is amply clear that no concrete action has been taken as the report shows.”
He also stated that of the 4,816 water samples taken by the MCD in the joint survey in the current year, dirty water was found in 315 samples. “There is a signature of DJB officials on the joint survey. In this regard, the statement by the DJB that it is not aware about supply of dirty water is nothing but shirking from its responsibility. The MCD also provides information to the department concerned when the sample of drinking water is found to be dirty,” he added.
Mr. Arya said: “We had also informed the DJB about 642 pipelines that run cutting nullahs. Of them, only seven pipelines have been repaired. Besides this, the DJB was also provided with the list of 23 cases of water leakages. However, only seven of them have been repaired and nothing concrete done on the remaining 16 pipelines so far. The MCD is tasked with maintenance of storm water drains of up to four feet. Whenever samples of drinking water are taken and the levels of dirty water found, it is only of the sewer mixed water.”
He went on to state that people residing in unauthorised and unauthorised regularised resettlement colonies have put their sewer lines in storm water drains, which is an illegal activity. “All this is the responsibility of the Chief Minister and she must rectify this without any delay,” he added.
NHRC notice to Jal Board chief
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice, returnable in four weeks, to the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) Chairman seeking a report on the news items that stated contaminated water was being supplied in many areas in the city due to cracks in the pipeline.
The Commission wanted the Chairman to explain what measures were being taken by DJB to provide potable water to the Delhi ites.
The NHRC took the issue suo motu based on the media reports. The reports claimed that according to a survey conducted by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and DJB in 200 areas at least 67 major water pipelines had micro cracks and were being contaminated by sewage as the lines crossed each other. The pipelines were quite old and some of them as old as 100 years, like those in Chandni Chowk and have rusted, leading to major leakages. Many residential colonies in Delhi had been getting contaminated water and the danger posed by this contaminated water were manifold as it might cause a variety of aliments including viral infection, hepatitis E, typhoid, cholera and jaundice.
The Commission expressed its concern on the “contaminated water issue” and observed that the contents of the report, if true, amounted to serious violation of right to health of the people of Delhi.
In the wake of the National Human Rights Commission's action in asking Delhi Jal Board chairman and Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit to explain the measures being taken to supply potable drinking water in the city in the wake of the water contamination controversy, the BJP-led Municipal Corporation of Delhi also hit out at the State Government on Tuesday.
MCD Leader of House Subhash Arya said: “The MCD is already concerned about the ill-effects of dirty water on the health of Delhiites and now the NHRC has also expressed its concern over the fact. The Commission has stated clearly that it is the right of the citizens to get clean drinking water and it is the responsibility of the Government to provide clean drinking water to them. The Delhi Government has completely failed in fulfilling its responsibility.”
The MCD on Tuesday said its health department on its own and jointly with the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has been taking samples of water and apprising the DJB about the findings.
Mr. Arya said: “Dr. V.K. Monga, chairman of MCD Medical Relief and Public Health Committee, has been time and again updating the Delhi Chief Minister on the outcome of these samples. However, he has not yet got a reply. On the ground level, it is amply clear that no concrete action has been taken as the report shows.”
He also stated that of the 4,816 water samples taken by the MCD in the joint survey in the current year, dirty water was found in 315 samples. “There is a signature of DJB officials on the joint survey. In this regard, the statement by the DJB that it is not aware about supply of dirty water is nothing but shirking from its responsibility. The MCD also provides information to the department concerned when the sample of drinking water is found to be dirty,” he added.
Mr. Arya said: “We had also informed the DJB about 642 pipelines that run cutting nullahs. Of them, only seven pipelines have been repaired. Besides this, the DJB was also provided with the list of 23 cases of water leakages. However, only seven of them have been repaired and nothing concrete done on the remaining 16 pipelines so far. The MCD is tasked with maintenance of storm water drains of up to four feet. Whenever samples of drinking water are taken and the levels of dirty water found, it is only of the sewer mixed water.”
He went on to state that people residing in unauthorised and unauthorised regularised resettlement colonies have put their sewer lines in storm water drains, which is an illegal activity. “All this is the responsibility of the Chief Minister and she must rectify this without any delay,” he added.
NHRC notice to Jal Board chief
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice, returnable in four weeks, to the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) Chairman seeking a report on the news items that stated contaminated water was being supplied in many areas in the city due to cracks in the pipeline.
The Commission wanted the Chairman to explain what measures were being taken by DJB to provide potable water to the Delhi ites.
The NHRC took the issue suo motu based on the media reports. The reports claimed that according to a survey conducted by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and DJB in 200 areas at least 67 major water pipelines had micro cracks and were being contaminated by sewage as the lines crossed each other. The pipelines were quite old and some of them as old as 100 years, like those in Chandni Chowk and have rusted, leading to major leakages. Many residential colonies in Delhi had been getting contaminated water and the danger posed by this contaminated water were manifold as it might cause a variety of aliments including viral infection, hepatitis E, typhoid, cholera and jaundice.
The Commission expressed its concern on the “contaminated water issue” and observed that the contents of the report, if true, amounted to serious violation of right to health of the people of Delhi.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Jal Board refutes MCD report on contamination (Hindu 02 August 2011)
“Complaints over leakage, water quality received daily but problem not alarming”
Making the most of it: Street children enjoying a bath thanks to a leaking Delhi Jal Board pipeline at East Patel Nagar roundabout on Monday. Photo: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar
The Delhi Jal Board on Monday admitted that there are complaints of contamination that it receives daily but maintained that the situation is far from alarming. The Board was reacting to a report compiled by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi alleging that there are cracks in major pipelines that allow contamination of water.
Speaking in defence of the water utility, DJB Chief Executive Officer Ramesh Negi said: “We have over 1,400 km of pipeline. There are leakages and on an everyday basis we get about 20-40 complaints of contamination that are attended to, but the problem is not so alarming.”
‘Where is MCD report?'
The CEO claimed that the Jal Board has not been given a copy of the MCD report, and said that contrary to what the MCD has claimed the DJB has not been part of the survey or report drafting. “No such report has been received by the CEO or by the Member (Water supply) in the DJB, from the Municipal Commissioner, the MCD, or the Chairman, Health Committee of the MCD. In fact, no joint survey of the pipelines was carried out. We have learnt that a copy has been submitted to the Delhi Government, we will ask for a copy of the report.”
The DJB CEO turned the tables on the civic agency for flawed policies that make it difficult for the water utility to get permission to cut roads and carry out necessary repair work.
“The MCD has a complex bureaucracy, there is over centralisation. We have requested the Government to make the procedure (of getting permission) easier,” said Mr. Negi. He also made a reference to the disagreement over cost sharing for road cutting and repair work.
Citing examples of delays caused by the time-consuming permission procedure, Mr. Negi said in Inderpuri the Jal Board had to go ahead with the road cutting work without the permission since the contamination complaints had been pending for over a week.
He also said that in most cases of contamination, the Jal Board had found that the service pipelines were old and rusted. These service lines are the responsibility of the consumers and have to be replaced in 10-15 years.
“Another major problem is that there is no dedicated corridor for the pipelines. Over 50 per cent of Delhi is built in an unauthorised way. There are resettlement colonies, unauthorised colonies, urban villages, slums, and in most of the places the sewer pipes run close to the water carrying mains. The problem of contamination is more during the monsoon season,” said Mr. Negi.
He said with a network of over 14,000 km of water pipelines, and 700 km of water mains and the rest peripheral lines under its service, the DJB has a streamlined procedure for handling contamination issues.
“We routinely lift samples for checking the quality of water. If the source of contamination is not traced immediately, the water supply to the area is cut-off without delay, and water is supplied through tankers until the source of contamination is found and remedied,” he said.
Listing the major reasons for contamination he said, the most common causes are leakages in pipelines, overflowing of sewers and nullahs and damaged service pipelines.
The DJB CEO said about 200-250 km of pipeline is changed annually and they have been urging the MCD to appoint an official who can be part of a joint team that can assess complaints and areas that need attention. “But we have not heard from the MCD so far. We have also set up a system wherein complaints can be lodged with the local water emergency or the central control room, or send an SMS to 53030 by typing “DJB (space) C”.
Making the most of it: Street children enjoying a bath thanks to a leaking Delhi Jal Board pipeline at East Patel Nagar roundabout on Monday. Photo: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar
The Delhi Jal Board on Monday admitted that there are complaints of contamination that it receives daily but maintained that the situation is far from alarming. The Board was reacting to a report compiled by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi alleging that there are cracks in major pipelines that allow contamination of water.
Speaking in defence of the water utility, DJB Chief Executive Officer Ramesh Negi said: “We have over 1,400 km of pipeline. There are leakages and on an everyday basis we get about 20-40 complaints of contamination that are attended to, but the problem is not so alarming.”
‘Where is MCD report?'
The CEO claimed that the Jal Board has not been given a copy of the MCD report, and said that contrary to what the MCD has claimed the DJB has not been part of the survey or report drafting. “No such report has been received by the CEO or by the Member (Water supply) in the DJB, from the Municipal Commissioner, the MCD, or the Chairman, Health Committee of the MCD. In fact, no joint survey of the pipelines was carried out. We have learnt that a copy has been submitted to the Delhi Government, we will ask for a copy of the report.”
The DJB CEO turned the tables on the civic agency for flawed policies that make it difficult for the water utility to get permission to cut roads and carry out necessary repair work.
“The MCD has a complex bureaucracy, there is over centralisation. We have requested the Government to make the procedure (of getting permission) easier,” said Mr. Negi. He also made a reference to the disagreement over cost sharing for road cutting and repair work.
Citing examples of delays caused by the time-consuming permission procedure, Mr. Negi said in Inderpuri the Jal Board had to go ahead with the road cutting work without the permission since the contamination complaints had been pending for over a week.
He also said that in most cases of contamination, the Jal Board had found that the service pipelines were old and rusted. These service lines are the responsibility of the consumers and have to be replaced in 10-15 years.
“Another major problem is that there is no dedicated corridor for the pipelines. Over 50 per cent of Delhi is built in an unauthorised way. There are resettlement colonies, unauthorised colonies, urban villages, slums, and in most of the places the sewer pipes run close to the water carrying mains. The problem of contamination is more during the monsoon season,” said Mr. Negi.
He said with a network of over 14,000 km of water pipelines, and 700 km of water mains and the rest peripheral lines under its service, the DJB has a streamlined procedure for handling contamination issues.
“We routinely lift samples for checking the quality of water. If the source of contamination is not traced immediately, the water supply to the area is cut-off without delay, and water is supplied through tankers until the source of contamination is found and remedied,” he said.
Listing the major reasons for contamination he said, the most common causes are leakages in pipelines, overflowing of sewers and nullahs and damaged service pipelines.
The DJB CEO said about 200-250 km of pipeline is changed annually and they have been urging the MCD to appoint an official who can be part of a joint team that can assess complaints and areas that need attention. “But we have not heard from the MCD so far. We have also set up a system wherein complaints can be lodged with the local water emergency or the central control room, or send an SMS to 53030 by typing “DJB (space) C”.
Green hurdle for amusement park (31 July 2011)
NEW DELHI: Delhi Metro Rail Corporation's proposed amusement park at Shastri Park Metro station is being opposed by the city's green lobby.
The Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan, a consortium of NGOs, says that the 15 hectares of land where park is to be built is not meant for commercial use and that DMRC does not have the requisite approvals to go ahead with the project.
The first violation, said Manoj Misra, convener of YJA, was of the moratorium issued by the lieutenant-governor prohibiting construction on the river bed. A DMRC spokesperson said that this proposal to set up an amusement park was followed up with LG's office and permission for setting up the park was given on November 16, 2010. But sources in the LG's office said this could not be construed as the final permission.
The office made it clear that there could be no permanent structures in the park, no concretization and the project had to be eco-friendly. However, DMRC still has to apply to DDA with the final plans. There is no formal clearance for the project from the LG's office," said a source.
Misra told TOI that as per the 2021 Master Plan and zonal plan, DMRC did not have any land available for commercial activity. "The limited land with designated 'commercial' land use has already been converted into IT parks. In any case, the entire DMRC complex at Shastri Park lies within the active river plain of 1,150m. This is important in view of the Delhi high court's decision of 2005, where it had ordered for the demolition of any structure standing within 300m of the river," said Misra.
He added that DMRC also did not have any approval from either the Yamuna Standing Committee or the Delhi Urban Arts Commission for the final project.
A DMRC spokesperson denied the charges, saying approval of the Central Water Commission's Yamuna Standing Committee for setting up an amusement park was obtained through their 68th committee meeting held March 2005. "The land was handed over to us by DDA in November 1999. Since then, it has been lying vacant. The land has to be commissioned out temporarily for 15 years. We have all necessary clearances," said the spokesperson.
YJA pointed out that even the standing committee clearance came with the rider that the river bed level had to be restored to 204m since during the earlier construction by Delhi Metro, the level had been raised by dumping of debris. The restoration has not taken place.
"The land use of the specific area is not commercial as per the zonal plan and no commercial activity can be allowed here without a change in land use. If DMRC has no operational use for this land why can't it be returned to DDA and restored as floodplain," said Misra.
The Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan, a consortium of NGOs, says that the 15 hectares of land where park is to be built is not meant for commercial use and that DMRC does not have the requisite approvals to go ahead with the project.
The first violation, said Manoj Misra, convener of YJA, was of the moratorium issued by the lieutenant-governor prohibiting construction on the river bed. A DMRC spokesperson said that this proposal to set up an amusement park was followed up with LG's office and permission for setting up the park was given on November 16, 2010. But sources in the LG's office said this could not be construed as the final permission.
The office made it clear that there could be no permanent structures in the park, no concretization and the project had to be eco-friendly. However, DMRC still has to apply to DDA with the final plans. There is no formal clearance for the project from the LG's office," said a source.
Misra told TOI that as per the 2021 Master Plan and zonal plan, DMRC did not have any land available for commercial activity. "The limited land with designated 'commercial' land use has already been converted into IT parks. In any case, the entire DMRC complex at Shastri Park lies within the active river plain of 1,150m. This is important in view of the Delhi high court's decision of 2005, where it had ordered for the demolition of any structure standing within 300m of the river," said Misra.
He added that DMRC also did not have any approval from either the Yamuna Standing Committee or the Delhi Urban Arts Commission for the final project.
A DMRC spokesperson denied the charges, saying approval of the Central Water Commission's Yamuna Standing Committee for setting up an amusement park was obtained through their 68th committee meeting held March 2005. "The land was handed over to us by DDA in November 1999. Since then, it has been lying vacant. The land has to be commissioned out temporarily for 15 years. We have all necessary clearances," said the spokesperson.
YJA pointed out that even the standing committee clearance came with the rider that the river bed level had to be restored to 204m since during the earlier construction by Delhi Metro, the level had been raised by dumping of debris. The restoration has not taken place.
"The land use of the specific area is not commercial as per the zonal plan and no commercial activity can be allowed here without a change in land use. If DMRC has no operational use for this land why can't it be returned to DDA and restored as floodplain," said Misra.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Water woes to stay as dam work stopped (Times of India 29 July 2011)
NEW DELHI: It will be long before Delhi finds a solution to its water problem. The national green tribunal on Thursday ordered Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd (HPPCL) to stop all construction work related to the Renuka Dam project.
The interim order put an end to any further land acquisition for the project till the main hearing, scheduled on September 1, takes place.
Delhi's share from the40-MW hydel project is pegged at 270 million gallons per day - a massive amount considering that the city is treating about 700MGD for its drinking water needs at present.
While forest clearance to the project was cancelled by the ministry of environment and forests in October, 2010, questions are also being raised about its environment clearance. Lawyer Ritwick Dutta, who appeared for the petitioner, said the two major issue son which the tribunal had stepped in were the discrepancies in total land required for the project and the number of families which would be displaced .
"So far, there is no one figure of how much land is required for the dam," said Dutta . "The environment impact assessment report states a figure that is completely different from what is mentioned in the environment clearance letter issued by the ministry. Yet another figure is being thrown up by the land acquisition reports. While the environment clearance states a figure of 1,477 hectares, HPPCL is quoting 2,239 hectares. About 37 villages will be impacted. This will also play a role in deciding the number of trees that need to be felled for the project, which, as per our analysis, is more than 13 lakh," he added.
There is still no clarity on how many families will be affected if the dam comes up. The assessment report mentions that about 308 families will be displaced while HPPCL's own land acquisition records indicate that the figure is around 1,300.
"How can the project be accorded any clearances when the baseline data is absent or false. The approved project seems totally at odds with what is being implemented. Even the credibility of the group that carried out impact assessment is being questioned .Acquisition work and maybe even construction was taking place at a breakneck speed," added Dutta.
The interim order put an end to any further land acquisition for the project till the main hearing, scheduled on September 1, takes place.
Delhi's share from the40-MW hydel project is pegged at 270 million gallons per day - a massive amount considering that the city is treating about 700MGD for its drinking water needs at present.
While forest clearance to the project was cancelled by the ministry of environment and forests in October, 2010, questions are also being raised about its environment clearance. Lawyer Ritwick Dutta, who appeared for the petitioner, said the two major issue son which the tribunal had stepped in were the discrepancies in total land required for the project and the number of families which would be displaced .
"So far, there is no one figure of how much land is required for the dam," said Dutta . "The environment impact assessment report states a figure that is completely different from what is mentioned in the environment clearance letter issued by the ministry. Yet another figure is being thrown up by the land acquisition reports. While the environment clearance states a figure of 1,477 hectares, HPPCL is quoting 2,239 hectares. About 37 villages will be impacted. This will also play a role in deciding the number of trees that need to be felled for the project, which, as per our analysis, is more than 13 lakh," he added.
There is still no clarity on how many families will be affected if the dam comes up. The assessment report mentions that about 308 families will be displaced while HPPCL's own land acquisition records indicate that the figure is around 1,300.
"How can the project be accorded any clearances when the baseline data is absent or false. The approved project seems totally at odds with what is being implemented. Even the credibility of the group that carried out impact assessment is being questioned .Acquisition work and maybe even construction was taking place at a breakneck speed," added Dutta.
Jal Board to make info on PPP projects public by September 1 (Hindu 28 July 2011)
Delhiites will soon be able to access much of the information pertaining to private parties engaged by the Jal Board for carrying out meter changing, meter reading and bill collection in their areas with consummate ease.
The Central Information Commission has directed the DJB to put out on its website the information pertaining to all memorandums of understanding (MOUs), contracts or other documents entered into between it and any private company or individual to engage them in these operations.
In an order issued to the Delhi Jal Board Secretary, Information Commissioner Shailesh Gandhi recently demanded adherence to Section 4 of the RTI Act under which public authorities are under an obligation to make certain suo motu disclosures which ensure accountability in institutions and reduce the load of RTI applications being filed with them. The Commission said it had received representations from two persons, Ms. Aheli Chowdhury and Ms. Preeti Sampat, requesting that some additional information also be displayed by the DJB under its obligations mandated by Section 4 of the RTI Act, 2005.
Noting that “this matter warrants larger public interest and information connected to it, as mandated by law, should be available proactively on the website of the department”, the Commission directed the DJB to provide all documents -- reports, circulars, notices, and proposals indicating the reasons for the decision to undertake each public private partnership.
It has also demanded that all contracts, agreements, proposals, MoUs, expression of interest related to the hiring of any consultants for the PPPs be put in the public domain. Similarly, it has called for making public all documents at any stage, submitted by a consultant for the PPPs.
It is also required to put on its website all documents indicating the budgets, expenses (estimated and undertaken), sources of finance including loans, grants and other monetary transactions related to the PPPs; details of public consultations held for these PPPs; the Water Board Amendment Bill; and all documents, reports, proposals, notices, contracts related to the preparation of the Water Board Amendment Bill and to the Master Plan for Sewerage System of Delhi for the year 2031.
The Commission has directed that the information be made available on the DJB website by September 1 and the compliance report be filed with it by September 10.
The Central Information Commission has directed the DJB to put out on its website the information pertaining to all memorandums of understanding (MOUs), contracts or other documents entered into between it and any private company or individual to engage them in these operations.
In an order issued to the Delhi Jal Board Secretary, Information Commissioner Shailesh Gandhi recently demanded adherence to Section 4 of the RTI Act under which public authorities are under an obligation to make certain suo motu disclosures which ensure accountability in institutions and reduce the load of RTI applications being filed with them. The Commission said it had received representations from two persons, Ms. Aheli Chowdhury and Ms. Preeti Sampat, requesting that some additional information also be displayed by the DJB under its obligations mandated by Section 4 of the RTI Act, 2005.
Noting that “this matter warrants larger public interest and information connected to it, as mandated by law, should be available proactively on the website of the department”, the Commission directed the DJB to provide all documents -- reports, circulars, notices, and proposals indicating the reasons for the decision to undertake each public private partnership.
It has also demanded that all contracts, agreements, proposals, MoUs, expression of interest related to the hiring of any consultants for the PPPs be put in the public domain. Similarly, it has called for making public all documents at any stage, submitted by a consultant for the PPPs.
It is also required to put on its website all documents indicating the budgets, expenses (estimated and undertaken), sources of finance including loans, grants and other monetary transactions related to the PPPs; details of public consultations held for these PPPs; the Water Board Amendment Bill; and all documents, reports, proposals, notices, contracts related to the preparation of the Water Board Amendment Bill and to the Master Plan for Sewerage System of Delhi for the year 2031.
The Commission has directed that the information be made available on the DJB website by September 1 and the compliance report be filed with it by September 10.
Faced with administrative apathy, village solves its own water problem (Hindu 29 July 2011)
Self-Help is best help: Madhera residents digging a one-km-long channel to lay a cement pipeline for receiving Yamuna waters for drinking and irrigation in Rajasthan's Bharatpur district. — Photo: Rohit Jain Paras
In a rare community-driven initiative, the residents of a nondescript village near Deeg in Bharatpur district of Rajasthan have solved the perennial problem of groundwater salinity by laying a one-km cement pipeline to get the Yamuna river waters from a feeder canal situated nearby.
The small Madhera village had been facing difficulty in getting clean and pure water for both drinking and irrigation for years in view of the unusually high fluoride, nitrate and salt contents in the groundwater of the region. The water salinity is so high it is unfit for drinking even by the cattle.
Eager to tackle the problem, the villagers convened a meeting earlier this month and decided to bring on their own the water from the Bharatpur feeder canal, situated about one km away from Madhera, which carries the waters of the Yamuna. Demands to connect the village with the feeder canal had been raised several times in the past without any response from the administration.
The villagers decided to lay an underground cement pipeline from the canal to Madhera at an estimated cost of Rs.2.50 lakh. Since the money required was not readily available, the village elders decided to pool in finances and declared that each household would make contributions as per its capacity.
Each of the 60 households in the village made contributions ranging from Rs.200 to Rs.5,000 for the unique community-driven project. A total of Rs.1.50 lakh was collected, but the work on the project was held up for want of the remainder amount.
The villagers met once again and this time decided to seek help from the Lupin Human Welfare and Research Foundation — the corporate social responsibility wing of pharmaceutical major Lupin — working actively for rural development, livelihood promotion and employment generation in Bharatpur district for the past two decades.
Lupin Foundation executive director Sita Ram Gupta said here on Thursday that his organisation considered the project a major initiative towards villagers' empowerment, and at once provided a financial assistance of Rs.70,000 for the purpose.
After arranging adequate finances, the villagers dug a one-km channel and laid a 700-metre cement pipeline of 12-inch diameter in it. The pipeline's installation was carried out in a professional manner, with each villager contributing his time, energy and expertise to ensure that water passed through it smoothly.
Mr. Gupta said the first action the villagers took after the getting the water supply was to fill up the pokhar (small public pond) in Madhera. This has led to an increase in the water level of the wells situated nearby, which are now being utilised for irrigation.
The Yamuna waters received through this unique model have facilitated irrigation in an area measuring 500 hectare, besides quenching the thirst of the villagers. The villagers have also put up water harvesting structures at several points to reap full advantage of the rains.
Mr. Gupta pointed out that the farming of vegetables and fruits had been taken up on a large scale in Madhera thanks to the “creative idea, ingenious planning and hard work” of villagers. With the expectations of a high agricultural yield, the financial lot of the villagers is also set to improve in the time to come.
In a rare community-driven initiative, the residents of a nondescript village near Deeg in Bharatpur district of Rajasthan have solved the perennial problem of groundwater salinity by laying a one-km cement pipeline to get the Yamuna river waters from a feeder canal situated nearby.
The small Madhera village had been facing difficulty in getting clean and pure water for both drinking and irrigation for years in view of the unusually high fluoride, nitrate and salt contents in the groundwater of the region. The water salinity is so high it is unfit for drinking even by the cattle.
Eager to tackle the problem, the villagers convened a meeting earlier this month and decided to bring on their own the water from the Bharatpur feeder canal, situated about one km away from Madhera, which carries the waters of the Yamuna. Demands to connect the village with the feeder canal had been raised several times in the past without any response from the administration.
The villagers decided to lay an underground cement pipeline from the canal to Madhera at an estimated cost of Rs.2.50 lakh. Since the money required was not readily available, the village elders decided to pool in finances and declared that each household would make contributions as per its capacity.
Each of the 60 households in the village made contributions ranging from Rs.200 to Rs.5,000 for the unique community-driven project. A total of Rs.1.50 lakh was collected, but the work on the project was held up for want of the remainder amount.
The villagers met once again and this time decided to seek help from the Lupin Human Welfare and Research Foundation — the corporate social responsibility wing of pharmaceutical major Lupin — working actively for rural development, livelihood promotion and employment generation in Bharatpur district for the past two decades.
Lupin Foundation executive director Sita Ram Gupta said here on Thursday that his organisation considered the project a major initiative towards villagers' empowerment, and at once provided a financial assistance of Rs.70,000 for the purpose.
After arranging adequate finances, the villagers dug a one-km channel and laid a 700-metre cement pipeline of 12-inch diameter in it. The pipeline's installation was carried out in a professional manner, with each villager contributing his time, energy and expertise to ensure that water passed through it smoothly.
Mr. Gupta said the first action the villagers took after the getting the water supply was to fill up the pokhar (small public pond) in Madhera. This has led to an increase in the water level of the wells situated nearby, which are now being utilised for irrigation.
The Yamuna waters received through this unique model have facilitated irrigation in an area measuring 500 hectare, besides quenching the thirst of the villagers. The villagers have also put up water harvesting structures at several points to reap full advantage of the rains.
Mr. Gupta pointed out that the farming of vegetables and fruits had been taken up on a large scale in Madhera thanks to the “creative idea, ingenious planning and hard work” of villagers. With the expectations of a high agricultural yield, the financial lot of the villagers is also set to improve in the time to come.
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