WATER IN NEWS A daily compilation of media coverage of water issues - Regional Centre for Development Cooperation
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Water in News – A bulletin of media coverage of water issues
WATER IN NEWS
A daily compilation of media coverage of water issues
for 08.05.2014, Thursday
Dear readers,
Regional Centre for Development Cooperation (RCDC) is extremely happy to present you ‘Water in
News’ bulletin for May 8, 2014. Today’s media coverage of water issues have been captured in the
following heads: (a) Policy/Programme Watch, (b) Industrial Use, (c) Dispute, (d) Rural Drinking Water,
(e) Urban Drinking Water, (f) Irrigation, (g) Water Management, (h) Water Pollution, (i) Water Disaster,
(j) Sanitation, and (k) Dam/River/ Reservoir infrastructures.
RCDC hopes that the bulletin will be found useful. Your inputs, comments, feedbacks and critics will help
us improve the bulletin. Kindly write to rcdcbbsr@gmail.com, bimal@rcdcindia.org.
Regional Centre for Development Cooperation
RCDC
Today’s bulletin covers water news and issues featured in newspapers and web portals published on
08.05.2014. We have covered print or e-paper editions of the following newspapers: (a) Sambad (all
Samaj (Bhubaneswar), (f) Samay (Bhubaneswar), (g) Times of India (Bhubaneswar), (h) Pioneer
(Bhubaneswar), (i) New Indian Express (Bhubaneswar). Besides we have covered web portals of (a) The
Hindu, (b) The Telegraph, (c) Orissadiary, and (d) Odisha Sun Times. Additionally we have also covered
magazine ‘Down To Earth’.
Contents
Rural Drinking Water ............................................................................................................................... 2
Urban Drinking Water.............................................................................................................................. 3
Industrial use ........................................................................................................................................... 4
Dispute .................................................................................................................................................... 4
Irrigation .................................................................................................................................................. 5
Water Management................................................................................................................................. 5
Sanitation ................................................................................................................................................ 6
Dam/Reservoir/River Infrastructure ........................................................................................................ 6
Good News.............................................................................................................................................. 6
A compilation of media coverage by Regional Centre for Development Cooperation 1Water in News – A bulletin of media coverage of water issues
cracked within one month of project’s
Rural Drinking Water commission 7 years ago as the quality was very
PWS derelict since its beginning 6 years ago, poor and execution of work substandard. The
villagers drinking fluoride high water, official project is lying defunct since then. Tileimal
says maintaining the project is not his concern: Sarpanch squarely blames RWSS department for
Sambalpur edition of Dharitri informs that neglect and poor quality of work. He further
residents of Bisibahal village, with 2000 says that inspite of numerous request and
population, in Komna block of Nuapada district raising of the issue in the Panchayat Samiti
are using fluoride high water. The report alleges meeting the the project has not been restored.
that 20 lakh rupees have been spent on pipe He has threatened public agitation. The Samiti
water supply project in two phases since 2007- Member has demand probe against substandard
08. But the project is yet to function as the work.
design of the project has been faulty and
Acute water scarcity in Deogarh villages as
execution of work quite substandard. The report
more than half of PWS projects are defunct:
further says that villagers have submitted
Sambalpur edition of Sambad informs that
memorandum and threatened agitation. The
Deogarh district is reeling under acute water
report informs that RWSS Engineer shied away
scarcity. It says that 70 out of 122 pipe water
from taking responsibility of the project as the
supply projects in the district are not working.
project was under ‘Swajaldhara’ scheme. The
Crores of rupees spent on PWS projects are lying
officer instead said that the project is the
unutilised due to various reasons. The report
responsibility of the villagers, not of his
lists few names of villages where PWS projects
department.
are not working. They are: Rengalipali,
PWS project of Saudi village in Balasore yet to Badkudar, Tarang, Malehipada, Reamal,
restore fully after Phailin: Balasore edition of Medinipur, Darjimunda, Laimura, Mahasindhu
Sambad reports that the Pipe Water Supply and Khilei. The report also informs that residents
project of Saudi village in Bahanaga block of of Sado village in Tileibani Panchayat are facing
Balasore district is yet to fully function after serious water scarcity. They are going 3 kms to
Phailin cyclone. The PWS project was defunct for bath. The report cautions that the summer is
3 months since Phailin. It was later restored, but going to pile agonies on helpless people if the
only partially. The report says that post-Phailin projects are not made functional on a war
repair of roads caused extensive damage to the footing.
pipe lines. Many parts of the village are not
Village in Balishankara block of Sundargarh
getting water. The Sarapanch says that RWSS is
facing severe water scarcity: Rourkela edition of
department is doing nothing even after many
Sambad reports that Bharnapada habitation in
intimations, but RWSS officials say that they
Kaintara village of Karuanbahal Panchayat of
have never been informed.
Balishankara block is facing huge water scarcity.
PWS project of Tileimal in Jharsuguda defunct The only tubewell in the habitation is not being
since 7 years: Sambalpur edition of Prameya able to meet demand of 150 populations.
reports that the Jaladhara pipe water supply People are going to IB rivers two kilometres
project meant to supply water to Baddumuria away to bath and for other domestic needs.
and Madhupur villages of Tileimal Panchayat in
Sonepur RWSS says everything OK but rural
Laikera block of Jharsuguda district lies defunct
Sonepur is in grip of acute water crisis: New
since last 7 years. The report says that pipes
Indian Express and Pragativadi report of acute
A compilation of media coverage by Regional Centre for Development Cooperation 2Water in News – A bulletin of media coverage of water issues
water scarcity from various parts of Sonepur National Highway officials is to be blamed, says
district. RWSS official though has mentioned the report.
that all 8470 tubewells of the district are
working. Deogarh getting only 1.5 MLD water against a
demand of 4 MLD: A report in Sambalpur
edition of Sambad informs that Deogarh town is
Urban Drinking Water getting only 1.5 liter of water against a demand
Jatani water scarcity worsens: An almost full of 4 liters.
page report in Prameya says that Jatani
Kuchinda residents complain as illegal
residents who are dependent on PHED supply
withdrawal rise from PHED pipelines: A report
are having a harrowing time. Most parts of the
in Sambalpur edition of Prameya informs that
town are not getting even one hour of water
people in lower reaches of water supply
supply. The report also says if power supply is
network in Kuchinda town are not getting water
disrupted for 3-4 hours on a day then PHED
as people in upper area are illegally lifting water
supply stops on the next day. The PHED Junior
from the pipelines through pumps.
Engineer blames low voltage power supply at
Kakudia pump house as the reason for the Puri city wasting water, rural areas facing
problem. He says that the pump requires to run shortage: A report in Dharitri says that while
for 18 hours to fill up the main tank but that is water is being wasted in Puri city, thousands of
not being possible for poor quality of power people in rural areas of the district are facing
supply. Informing that though additional acute water stress. The report tries to make a
borewells have been provided in the town to calculation of water waste in Puri city. It informs
improve situation, supply from Naraj only can that 43 small and 8 large vehicle servicing points
solve the problem. alone are using 30,000 liters of water per day.
Hotel, restaurants and other business
Bhawanipatna getting less than half of water it
establishments are drawing water without
requires, water from Hati river remains a pipe
control. Lack of coordination between PHED and
dream: An investigative report in Sambalpur
Municipality is leading to wastage of water as
edition of Prameya informs that the PHED is
broken pipelines and open taps are not been
supplying only 4.2 MLD water against
attended to. PHED Executive Engineer says that
Bhawanipatna’s demand of 9 MLD. The 10 year
repair and maintenance is municipality’s
old project to supply water from Hati river
responsibility. Municipality Executive officer
continues to prolong. The Hati river project had
says that he is not aware about this. The report
started in 2004 with Rs 10 Crore funding from
informs that while urban Puri is wasting water
RLTAP. Laying of pipeline was almost complete.
people in rural areas are facing distress as
But major length of the pipeline was damaged
groundwater levels have gone down
during highway expansion. PHED official
considerably rendering many sources defunct.
estimate that repairing of damaged pipeline will
require a further Rs 2.5 Crore. While water Drinking water supply pipe and tap inside
supply Hati river stays incomplete, distribution drain, Puri residents drinking contaminated
work initiated with UIDSSM funding of Rs 9.86 water: Dhartri reports that water supply pipe
Crore too is making tardy progress. The report along with a supply is submerged inside a drain
says in spite of an expenditure of Rs 27.86 Crore near Khakimatha Nuasahi of Puri town. The
and 10 years of time, the project remains a pipe report carries a photo of people collecting from
dream. Lack of coordination between PHED and that source. PHED Executive Engineer said that
A compilation of media coverage by Regional Centre for Development Cooperation 3Water in News – A bulletin of media coverage of water issues
he was not aware about such state. He has barrage, state government had committed for
promised action. alternative arrangement. The parties have
strongly condemned the state government for
again allowing POSCO water from Mahanadi,
Industrial use especially at time when the election has just
POSCO gets water allocation from Mahanadi concluded.
and Hansu: Down to Earth informs about state
government approval to POSCO. The reports POSCO water approval illegal, says WIO:
quotes Jagatsinghpur District Collector S K Sambalpur edition of Prameya has quoted
Mallick saying, “The water resources Ranjan Panda, Convener of Water Initiatives
department has informed POSCO that it can Odisha. Sri Panda has opposed state
draw 138,000 cumecs (cubic meter per second) government’s recent approval to POSCO to draw
of water from the Mahanadi river at Jobra water from Mahanadi and Hansua rivers. He has
barrage for the project work”. During the first said that government has not assessed water
phase, POSCO will get 69,000 cumecs water status of both Mahanadi and Hansua. Without
from December 2018. From 2021, during the doing that how can the government take such a
second phase, POSCO will get another 69,000 decison, he has alleged. He has further said that
cumecs. POSCO will also receive 3,400 cumecs such a order when the election code of conduct
water from the river Hansua from June 16, 2016 is in force is condemnable.
till December 2018 for the construction work,
NTPC seeks state government nod to lay
said Mallick.
pipeline from Hirakud to its mega plant in
POSCO will not be allowed a drop from Hansua, Darlipali: NTPC’s ultra mega power plant in
PPSS warns: Samaya informs that Poso Darlipali of Sundargarh which has already got
Pratirodh Sangram Samiti’s has opposed state approval for water from Hirakud, has sought
government’s approval to POSCO. PPSS has state government nod to lay pipelines. Energy
declared that it will not allow a drop of water department of state government has advised
from Hansua. district administration to speed up the process.
The pipeline will go through 525 acre of land.
POSCO water approval from Mahandi opposed: The project will begin after environment and
Sambad has carried Posco Pratirodh Sangram other clearance.
Samiti’s opposition to the recent approval to
POSCO to use water from Mahanadi and
Hansua. The PPSS leadership has threatened to Dispute
intensify agitation. The report also covers Jaunra river dispute surfaces again: Sambad
opinion of Posco supporters. But the report has carries that the Jaura river dispute has surfaced
also quoted them saying that farmer interest again as ‘Sangharsh Samiti’ demands fresh
should be protected first. consultation between the state and the Centre.
The report briefly discusses about the history of
Four parties oppose state government’s water
the dispute between Odisha and Chattisgarh.
approval to POSCO: Samaj reports that CPI, Stating that the 1975 accord between Odisha
CPI(M), Samajbadi party and Forward Block have and Chhattisgarh is not in the interest of Odisha,
strongly opposed state government’s approval
the Sangharsh Samiti has demanded
to POSCO to draw water from Mahanadi and cancellation of the agreement. The Samiti has
Hansua rivers. After opposition to the earlier submitted a memorandum to the state and
plan to source 125 Cusec water from Jobra
Central government.
A compilation of media coverage by Regional Centre for Development Cooperation 4Water in News – A bulletin of media coverage of water issues
CPI demands white paper on Pollavaram: Supreme Court gives not to increase
Prameya informs that CPI has demanded the Mullaperiayar dam height: Pragativadi informs
state government to publish a white paper on that Supreme Court has allowed Tamilnadu to
Pollavaram. increase height of Mullaperiaya dam to 142 ft.
The decision has been welcomed in Tamilnadu
Pollavaram opposed, Samata Kranti Dal
whereas Kerala has called for strike.
submits memorandum to President through
Malkangiri Collector: Jeypore edition of Sambad
and New Indian Express inform that Samata Irrigation
Kranti Dal has submitted a memorandum to the Lift-Irrigation woes in Balangir continue,
President of India through Malkangiri Collector. projects defunct, funds unutilised: Sambalpur
The Dal has demanded scrapping of Pollavarm edition of Sambad carries an investigative report
project citing severe social, environmental and of lift irrigation status in Balangir. It says that
economic loss, including losses in Odisha. only 7-8 of the 34 lift irrigation projects set up
under drought relief grant in 2011-12 are
WR Principal Secretary says Odisha will knock
working. In year 2012-13 the district had
SC over Centre’s decision of Pollavaram
received fund for 2447 deep borewells under
Authority: All papers of Odisha have
Biju Krushak Yojna. But it could complete only
prominently covered Odisha government’s
1101 borewells. The report further says that
decision to move Supreme Court over decision
quality of work under BKY is very poor and many
on Pollavaram authority. Sambad informs that
newly installed pumps are not working. The
Odisha Water Resource Department Principal
report quotes Lift Irrigation official who blame
Secretary Sri Suresh Mahapatra has informed
the electric distribution company for majority
that Odisha will file writ in Supreme Court
problems. Frequent power disruption and low
against Central government decision to on
voltage problem is rendering lift irrigation drive
Pollavaram. Samaj informs that Odisha
unsuccessful. The low voltage problem is very
government is consulting senior advocate Raju
acute in Gudvela and Deogaon block. Quoting
Ramchandran to file petition. Samaj also quotes
officials the report also informs that Balangir
Principal Secretary Sri Mahapatra saying that the
district has 838 river lift irrigation points out of
state government is waiting for details on the
which 35 are not working.
Central government’s approval to Pollavaram
authority. Primafacie, it seems that formation of
the authority is a violation of conditions of Water Management
Godavari authority, said Mahapatra. This Water bodies in Sambalpur in deep neglect,
decision also violates earlier order made by the Sambalpur suffering serious scarcity: Sambalpur
Court. The project is likely to submerge 100 edition of Sambad has placed a large report on
square kilometres and 100 villages of Malkangiri pathetic status of ponds and other water bodies
district. It is a violation of earlier committed of within Sambalpur urban area. It says that none
zero submergence in Odisha. Odisha will file the of the 26 ponds of the city are in usable
petition very soon, said the Principal Secretary. condition because of serious neglect of the
Indian Express adds that the authority will water bodies. People are in deep distress and in
function under the Union Water Resources some case forced to use severely polluted water
ministry and is meant to expedite the process of of the ponds. The report also mentions about
environmental and investment clearances of the historical significance of the ponds and their
project. State government is also opposing the past days of glory. People have made numerous
height of dam.
A compilation of media coverage by Regional Centre for Development Cooperation 5Water in News – A bulletin of media coverage of water issues
representations to revive the ponds bu
but Bhubaneswar stare flooded monsoon as drains
authorities have not taken any effort. are choked: Pragativadi has a report which says
that many important drains are
a choked. The
Soil filling of water bodies in Balasore opposed: BMC has not hold its meeting because of
Locals have opposed filling of two ponds,
election conduct and the agencies in charge of
Bagbrundaban and Golapokhari. Owner of both sanitation has not extension. The report
the ponds were planning to construct shopping expresses apprehension that BMC has very little
complex over it. As per existing regulations and
time before monsoon to clean city drains.
Supreme Court order water bodies
bodies, even if that
is under private ownership, cannot be converted
to any other category and soil filling of water Dam/Reservoir/River
River Infrastructure
I
bodies is illegal. The locals have taken this Ratnachira river breach cause water logging:
matter to Court which has ordered a stay on any Sambad has carried a photograph of a river
work.
rk. Chairman of Balasore has assured that breach in Ratnachira river. The report says that
once the matter is solved in Court the water after water supply in the River water is flooding
bodies will be restored back. various parts including the bypass road rom
Sakhigopal temple
emple to the college.
Sanitation
Neglect by Sambalpur Municipality negating Good News
community drive to keep ring road clean: A Transgender community opens Jalachhatra in
report in Sambalpur edition of Sambad bla blames Bhubaneswar: The transgender community has
the Sambalpur Municipality for failing to keep opened a Jalachhatra near Indradhanu market of
ring road clean. The report says that because of Bhubaneswar. At a time when Municipality and
civil society intervention and participation the other concerned bodies have failed to provide
ring road was cleaned. But Municipality is water, this initiative is drawing a lot of praise
dumping stinking garbage on the roadside and says the report in Prameya.
failing to maintain cleanness of the road.
Nalakunda in Bhubaneswar neglected: The
historic Nalakunda of Bhubaneswar is full of
garbage and other waste.
(RCDC seeks your inputs and ideas to REGIONAL CENTRE FOR DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION
make it more comprehensive and user Plot No: HIG-26, K-6
Housing Scheme, Phase-II,
friendly. All inputs will be appropriately Kalinga Vihar, Bhubaneswar - 751 019
credited to the contributor/author. Odisha, India.
A compilation of media coverage by Regional Centre for Development Cooperation 6You can also read
