AURANGABAD: The much-awaited work of the second phase of conveyance system for carrying the effluent from individual industry to Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) facility in MIDC area at Waluj has finally started. The Rs 9-crore project, which was supposed to be completed in December 2011, will connect around 125 industries in Waluj.
Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) executive engineer Rajendra Gawde said, "The phase-II project having a capacity of 5 MLD includes construction of four effluent water tanks and laying of a pipeline. The project would cover about 80% of the Waluj industrial belt."
He said, "Four tanks for collection of effluent would be constructed bearing 600 cubic metre capacity each. A 23-km pipeline would be laid to which about 125 industries would be connected. We are aiming to complete the work of critical components before monsoon and the deadline to complete the entire work is within 18 months."
Sources said that about 1,200 industries exist in the Waluj industrial belt generating around 10 MLD effluent every day. The first phase of CETP, which was functional in 2011, is also under-utilised. "The capacity of phase-I CETP facility is 5 MLD," said authorities of the Waluj Industries Association (WIA).
They said that the plant is receiving only 1.5 to 2 MLD effluent. At present, the industries are supplied with 22 MLD water. About 50% is used as raw material and the rest is used for domestic purpose.
Read More Here - TOI - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/aurangabad/Finally-work-begins-on-phase-II-of-Common-Effluent-Treatment-Plant/articleshow/31810458.cms
Tuesday, 1 April 2014
TNAU denies discharging effluents, PCB to detect nature of pollution
COIMBATORE: Officials from Pollution Control Board and TNAU took samples of sewage water and soil from the open canal at Gokulam Colony at PN Pudur in the city on Saturday to detect the nature of the pollution and the origin of the stench that caused panic in the area on Friday.
They are yet to ascertain the origin of chemical pollution. "We have taken sewage water and soil samples from the canal. It will be tested at our laboratory and the result will be known in four days. There are no chemical-related factories and we are trying to understand the nature of pollution," said K Ravichandran, district environmental engineer, TNPCB, Coimbatore. He added that some unidentified persons might have dumped chemicals in the canal in Gokulam Colony area.
TNAU officials denied the allegations that effluents were released from the varsity campus. "There is no possibility of the effluents coming from the varsity," said K Ramasamy, vice-chancellor, TNAU. At the same time, they have taken the samples of water and soil from the place. The results of the test will be released in a few days, he added.
Read More Here - TOI - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/TNAU-denies-discharging-effluents-PCB-to-detect-nature-of-pollution/articleshow/31700547.cms
They are yet to ascertain the origin of chemical pollution. "We have taken sewage water and soil samples from the canal. It will be tested at our laboratory and the result will be known in four days. There are no chemical-related factories and we are trying to understand the nature of pollution," said K Ravichandran, district environmental engineer, TNPCB, Coimbatore. He added that some unidentified persons might have dumped chemicals in the canal in Gokulam Colony area.
TNAU officials denied the allegations that effluents were released from the varsity campus. "There is no possibility of the effluents coming from the varsity," said K Ramasamy, vice-chancellor, TNAU. At the same time, they have taken the samples of water and soil from the place. The results of the test will be released in a few days, he added.
Read More Here - TOI - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/TNAU-denies-discharging-effluents-PCB-to-detect-nature-of-pollution/articleshow/31700547.cms
Safe or unsafe water?
Tucked away in nature's lap, Uguem, a small village housing South Goa's lifeline, Selaulim dam, should have been a paradise in the hinterland. Lying in the foothills of the verdant Sahyadri range, the village has been devastated by mining activities in the past and now industrial activity is polluting its main water source.
Uguem panchayat is surrounded by Bhati panchayat on the eastern side, Sanguem municipality from the western side, Calem panchayat from the northern side and Rivona panchayat from the southern side.
Selaulim water reservoir supplies water for drinking as well as for irrigation projects in major talukas of South Goa. This was achieved by the state's biggest irrigation project which was estimated to cost Rs 8.5 crore in 1970s, but shot up to Rs 153 crore when it was completed. The serene surroundings of the dam in the village with a population of 4,812 in the seven-member panchayat attracts visitors from other parts of the state and tourists, but undesired development is affecting its natural resources.
The famous dam and the botanical garden nearby attracts thousands of tourists and rakes in revenue for the government, but Uguem panchayat is not receiving even a few rupees from this source. The collection of entry ticket fees is taken by the forest department. The only income Uguem panchayat can rely on is around Rs 50,000 from house tax collections.
The Selaulim dam has four big water treatment plants atop the hill on the south-western side of the dam atop the hill. Water is being chemically treated in these reservoirs and the water get filtered and goes in the reservoir tank for distribution. It supplies drinking water to places as far as Cavelossim in Salcete and Vasco in Mormugao taluka and other surrounding areas.
All the four treatment plants have a diameter of around 70m. But what shocks residents is the apathy and disinterest shown for many years by the local bodies, pollution control board and the state government to the presence of an ore processing steel plant in the close proximity of the treatment plant. "The plant is barely 150m away and is polluting the drinking water teatment plant, reservoirs and the surrounding area with hazardous gas," a local resident alleged.
Francis Carvalho a social activist and president of 'Farmers Club- Uguem' said that the ore-processing steel plant is not more than 200m from the main Selaulim water treatment plant and reservoirs. "Due to the pollution done by this factory, the drinking water from the reservoirs gets contaminated with dust and hazardous gas pollution. Major part of South Goa which connects to the Selaulim drinking water pipeline gets polluted water because of the factory's pollution," Carvalho stated.
"I have raised this issue in many gram sabhas, even the panchayat had taken a resolution which I proposed and sent to the pollution control board to take necessary action against the factory owner. Pollution control board failed to do the inspection till date," stated Carvalho.
Another resident John Sequeira from Uguem said that people of Uguem and Sanguem town came onto the streets and several morchas were staged at Sanguem bus stand in protest against the factory polluting drinking water reservoirs. "The previous panchayat members including the sarpanch lent support to the people's agitation, even the then parish priest of Sanguem church joined hands with the agitators against the rampant pollution done by the factory," stated Sequeira.
"Why is the mines department numb on this issue? How can the pollution control board give no objection clearance to this factory when the reservoirs are located at mere distance of 200m," asked Carvalho.
Diogo Fernandes, a farmer from Uguem, said that the government must come up with a solution to solve this problem. A major part of South Goa is being affected by the pollution from the factory. "I had opposed this pollution issue several times during gram sabhas but no action has been initiated yet. How can Goa state pollution control board (GSPCB) allow a factory near Selaulim dam," said Fernandes.
Read More Here - TOI - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Safe-or-unsafe-water/articleshow/33038925.cms
Uguem panchayat is surrounded by Bhati panchayat on the eastern side, Sanguem municipality from the western side, Calem panchayat from the northern side and Rivona panchayat from the southern side.
Selaulim water reservoir supplies water for drinking as well as for irrigation projects in major talukas of South Goa. This was achieved by the state's biggest irrigation project which was estimated to cost Rs 8.5 crore in 1970s, but shot up to Rs 153 crore when it was completed. The serene surroundings of the dam in the village with a population of 4,812 in the seven-member panchayat attracts visitors from other parts of the state and tourists, but undesired development is affecting its natural resources.
The famous dam and the botanical garden nearby attracts thousands of tourists and rakes in revenue for the government, but Uguem panchayat is not receiving even a few rupees from this source. The collection of entry ticket fees is taken by the forest department. The only income Uguem panchayat can rely on is around Rs 50,000 from house tax collections.
The Selaulim dam has four big water treatment plants atop the hill on the south-western side of the dam atop the hill. Water is being chemically treated in these reservoirs and the water get filtered and goes in the reservoir tank for distribution. It supplies drinking water to places as far as Cavelossim in Salcete and Vasco in Mormugao taluka and other surrounding areas.
All the four treatment plants have a diameter of around 70m. But what shocks residents is the apathy and disinterest shown for many years by the local bodies, pollution control board and the state government to the presence of an ore processing steel plant in the close proximity of the treatment plant. "The plant is barely 150m away and is polluting the drinking water teatment plant, reservoirs and the surrounding area with hazardous gas," a local resident alleged.
Francis Carvalho a social activist and president of 'Farmers Club- Uguem' said that the ore-processing steel plant is not more than 200m from the main Selaulim water treatment plant and reservoirs. "Due to the pollution done by this factory, the drinking water from the reservoirs gets contaminated with dust and hazardous gas pollution. Major part of South Goa which connects to the Selaulim drinking water pipeline gets polluted water because of the factory's pollution," Carvalho stated.
"I have raised this issue in many gram sabhas, even the panchayat had taken a resolution which I proposed and sent to the pollution control board to take necessary action against the factory owner. Pollution control board failed to do the inspection till date," stated Carvalho.
Another resident John Sequeira from Uguem said that people of Uguem and Sanguem town came onto the streets and several morchas were staged at Sanguem bus stand in protest against the factory polluting drinking water reservoirs. "The previous panchayat members including the sarpanch lent support to the people's agitation, even the then parish priest of Sanguem church joined hands with the agitators against the rampant pollution done by the factory," stated Sequeira.
"Why is the mines department numb on this issue? How can the pollution control board give no objection clearance to this factory when the reservoirs are located at mere distance of 200m," asked Carvalho.
Diogo Fernandes, a farmer from Uguem, said that the government must come up with a solution to solve this problem. A major part of South Goa is being affected by the pollution from the factory. "I had opposed this pollution issue several times during gram sabhas but no action has been initiated yet. How can Goa state pollution control board (GSPCB) allow a factory near Selaulim dam," said Fernandes.
Read More Here - TOI - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Safe-or-unsafe-water/articleshow/33038925.cms
Water costlier from today
NAGPUR: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation has announced a 5% increase in water tariff from April 1. The tariff has now gone up by 20% in the last four years. TOI was the first to report about the expected hike on March 31.
The water tariff has increased to Rs 6.07 per unit/1,000 litres for residential consumers. The rate will be applicable for consumption up to 20 units. The tariff will steeply increase to Rs 9.73 per unit for water consumption up to 30 units. The new tariff would be Rs 17.37 per unit to Rs 23.15 per unit for commercial consumers.
"There is a huge gap between the expense and revenue in water works. NMC is supplying 600 million litres per day (MLD) but billing stands below 250 MLD. Reducing losses is a solution but we need to ensure meters in all houses. Around 6 lakh families reside in the city but there are only 1.80L with water connections. Besides, the payment to private water operator Orange City Water Private Limited (OCW) has to be made according to contract conditions," said municipal commissioner Shyam Wardhane justifying the hike.
Read More Here - TOI - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Water-costlier-from-today/articleshow/33038361.cms
The water tariff has increased to Rs 6.07 per unit/1,000 litres for residential consumers. The rate will be applicable for consumption up to 20 units. The tariff will steeply increase to Rs 9.73 per unit for water consumption up to 30 units. The new tariff would be Rs 17.37 per unit to Rs 23.15 per unit for commercial consumers.
"There is a huge gap between the expense and revenue in water works. NMC is supplying 600 million litres per day (MLD) but billing stands below 250 MLD. Reducing losses is a solution but we need to ensure meters in all houses. Around 6 lakh families reside in the city but there are only 1.80L with water connections. Besides, the payment to private water operator Orange City Water Private Limited (OCW) has to be made according to contract conditions," said municipal commissioner Shyam Wardhane justifying the hike.
Read More Here - TOI - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Water-costlier-from-today/articleshow/33038361.cms
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)