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India Gazette
03-06-2025
- Health
- India Gazette
Bengaluru: Karnataka Governor calls for collective action on environmental protection at Sustainability Summit
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], June 3 (ANI): Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, emphasising the urgent need for environmental protection amidst growing concerns over pollution and dwindling natural resources said, 'We must awaken a renewed consciousness--rooted in love and respect for nature, simplicity in lifestyle, and reverence for forests.' Addressing the Bangalore Sustainability Summit on Tuesday, themed 'Advancing Sustainable Development Goals: Enhancing the Impact of Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships through Knowledge Sharing and Collaboration', jointly organised by O P Jindal Global University and RV University. 'The recent challenges, especially the oxygen crisis, have underlined the critical importance of protecting our environment. Sustainable development is deeply embedded in our national ethos and governance philosophy,' the Governor said. He highlighted that India has been committed to sustainable progress through landmark initiatives, including Make in India, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, National Rural Drinking Water Programme, National Health Mission (Urban & Rural), Digital India, Deendayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti Yojana, Kaushal Bharat, and the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana. 'States play a pivotal role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and several state-level schemes are contributing meaningfully to this national vision,' he added. Praising Bengaluru as a hub of innovation and technological advancement, the Governor noted that the city also grapples with challenges such as rapid urbanisation, climate change, and pressure on natural resources. 'It is encouraging to see this summit focus on the power of knowledge sharing and cross-sector collaboration to tackle these challenges and drive impact.' He lauded the efforts of Indian universities in promoting sustainable practices and preserving local biodiversity. 'Institutions across the country are becoming custodians of environmental responsibility, reflecting the true spirit of World Environment Day.' Acknowledging the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Governor Gehlot cited national campaigns such as Clean Air, Save Water, Save Energy, Grow More Plants, and Green Cities as instrumental in spreading environmental awareness among citizens. He also commended the University for its commitment to sustainability. 'Since its inception in 2009, the university has consistently demonstrated its dedication to the SDGs. Its recent Gold Medal in the Times Higher Education Online Learning Rankings 2024 and top rank in the Ministry of Education's Clean Campus Ranking are testaments to its environmental leadership and the critical role of youth in nation-building.' Concluding his address, Governor Gehlot made a heartfelt appeal, 'We must collectively embrace our responsibility to safeguard the environment. Only through unified action can we ensure a clean, healthy planet for future generations. (ANI)
Time of India
15-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
4.5cr water plant still lies nonfunctional after 7 years
T'puram: Even seven years after (KWA) constructed an 11.5 MLD capacity water treatment plant at Nanniyode to find a permanent solution for the drinking water woes of thousands of people, the plant remains non-functional. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Several portions of the plant, which was constructed at a cost of Rs 4.5 crore as part of the , have rusted and damaged due to the apathy of the authorities. The construction of tanks and transmission lines is yet to be completed. The project was proposed in 2010 to provide drinking water connections to the residents of Nanniyode and Anad panchayats. It was constructed in 2018 by utilising funds from the National Rural Drinking Water Programme and recently Rs 77.21 crore was sanctioned for the construction of tanks, pumps and transmission lines for the project. KWA officials said they could not finish the construction of some tanks and transmission lines, which prevented the commissioning of the project. Three tanks were proposed to be constructed at Nanniyode panchayat as part of the project: one with a capacity of 10 lakh litres at Anakuzhi, a 1.5-lakh litre tank near the Nanniyode panchayat office and a 3-lakh litre tank at Alumkuzhi. The construction of the two tanks was completed, but during the construction at Alumkuzhi, huge rocks were spotted underneath. The rocks were eventually removed, but the local panchayat could not auction the rocks as the bidders had to pay a huge amount as GST. "Only after auctioning the rocks can we remove more rocks and it also delays the works," said a KWA official. In Anad, two tanks with capacities of 6.5 lakh litres at Kooppu and 1.7 lakh litres at Kaithakkad were constructed, but a transmission line of 8km from the Nanniyode plant to Chullimanoor is yet to become a reality. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Delay in getting road cutting permission was pointed out as the reason for the delay. "The construction of a tank with a capacity of 4 lakh litres and a pump house at Chullimanoor was also completed. We have accomplished almost 70% of the work and the remaining works can be completed in three months,," said a KWA official. Nanniyode panchayat president Shylaja Rajeevan and Anad panchayat president N Sreekala have urged KWA to finish the works immediately. "It was by considering the struggles of the people that we exerted much pressure for the implementation of the project some 15 years ago. But it is progressing at a snail's pace and the plant remains non-functional. KWA could not even finish works of transmission lines near the plant. Only 50% of work is completed and water connection for all residents' still remains a distant dream," said Shylaja.
The Hindu
12-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
When water standards don't hold water
How much water should a person receive each day? In India, this question is not answered by science or necessity, but by an arbitrary metric — the per capita water supply standard, prescribed in litres per capita per day (lpcd). While the human right to water guarantees access to safe and clean water, and obligates governments to provide basic services, in practice this right is shaped by the per capita standard. This benchmark not only dictates how much water citizens are entitled to demand for their daily needs, but also drives planning and investments in urban water infrastructure, from dams to household taps. Yet, despite its widespread use by municipal authorities across India, it lacks empirical grounding, objective rationale, and validity, making it a policy instrument built more on convenience than evidence. Defining per capita standard The per capita standard, combined with population figures, is used to compute the domestic water demand of a city. It serves as a reference point to assess the adequacy, 'water shortages', and 'over consumption'. The per capita standard is also used to assess future investments required for developing and maintaining water supply services. In addition, water demand computed using this standard determines how much water is to be diverted from rural to urban areas — and the scale of its negative consequences. Mumbai, for instance, justifies the development of upcoming dams using the per capita standard of 240 lpcd for domestic use alone, excluding losses. The per capita standards are prescribed by multiple agencies, including the Bureau of Indian Standards and the Central Public Health and Environmental Engineering Organization (CPHEEO), a technical wing of the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA). Additionally, cities such as Mumbai and Delhi follow their own standards. Evidence suggests that these standards are not based on extensive consumer surveys or empirical data on water consumption. Studies show that the per capita water demand varies based on socio-economic status, climate, geography, and culture. Yet, a single value is often prescribed for the entire country despite its vast geographical expanse and climatic variations. For example, CPHEEO prescribes 150 lpcd for megacities and 135 lpcd for all other cities with existing or planned sewerage systems without providing any rationale to substantiate these numbers. Similarly, the standard of 55 lpcd prescribed under the Jal Jeevan Mission for all rural drinking water supply schemes lacks any empirical rationale. The same standard was set under the National Rural Drinking Water Programme (2013) for designing rural piped water supply. However, it only aimed to provide individual tap connections to at least 30% of households — far from universal coverage. Later, the Swachh Bharat Mission pushed for universal access to individual household toilets, significantly increasing per capita water consumption. Yet, while promising a functional tap connection for every household under JJM, the earlier standard of 55 lpcd was retained. While designing urban water supply schemes, cities often follow the per capita standards prescribed by the project financing agency. The per capita standard influences the overall cost of the scheme. Since water supply schemes are capital-intensive, the majority of cities depend on central government assistance (through AMRUT and the Smart Cities Mission) for their construction. As CPHEEO provides a technical sanction to these schemes only if the design adheres to prescribed standards, engineers and consultants follow CPHEEO standards unquestioningly to ensure a smooth approval process, regardless of the actual water requirements. CPHEEO standards have therefore become the de facto norm in urban water supply. Cities conveniently apply multiple per capita standards simultaneously, regardless of actual water requirements. For instance, in 2012, while preparing the detailed project report for the Gargai Dam, Mumbai adopted a standard of 150 lpcd — deviating from the 240 lpcd used for other projects — just to meet CPHEEO requirements and secure Central government funding. No monitoring The prescribed standards are not monitored during service delivery to ensure water supply according to the design standards at the doorstep of all citizens. To ensure water delivery as per the standard, the consumer connections need to be metered, and the installation of bulk water meters in the distribution network is a prerequisite to measure water flows. However, very few cities have connections with functional meters. In many cities, supply zones are not isolated, and bulk water meters are not installed. Therefore, it is not feasible to trace how much water is flowing where in the city. Although the service level benchmarks used by MoHUA to assess the performance of municipal water supply include per capita supply as a parameter, it is measured at the city level and, therefore, fails to indicate whether water is delivered to citizens according to the standard. As a result, the per capita standard of water supply, a useful metric for planners (to allocate financial resources) and engineers (to design infrastructure), remains a fictitious number for citizens when it comes to actual service delivery. Systematic efforts are needed to establish evidence-based per capita standards and ensure equitable water delivery so that every citizen receives their rightful share. Sachin Tiwale, Fellow, Water and Society Programme, Centre for Environment and Development, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment
