Brainstorm to end water, sanitation problems

Binay Singh, times of India, TNN, Jun 26, 2010

VARANASI: Sahbhagi Shikshan Kendra (SSK), a state-level resource organisation working on the issue of strengthening institutions of local self-governance, is going to hold a consultation on the issue of water and sanitation in the city under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).

"As part of its initiative on reforms in urban governance, SSK has been intervening in Varanasi Municipal Corporation for the past two years on the issue of water and sanitation," Ritu Rai of SSK told TOI on Saturday. In this process, SSK has conducted studies particularly on issues of water and sanitation and citizen report card survey. The findings can be vital in view of initiating reforms in Varanasi Municipal Corporation. "In this regard, SSK and City Technical Advisory Group (C-TAG) would organise a state-level consultation on Sunday to share the study findings and the burning issues of the city and their probable solutions," said Rai. She said the meeting would be attended by experts from institutions like Banaras Hindu University (BHU) and Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth (MGKV), members of civil societies and authorities of municipal corporation of Varanasi and UP Jal Nigam.

Whatever be the outcome of the study that will be put up in the meeting, the fact is that the city has been facing problems of sanitation and water quality for years. However, efforts are being made under JNNURM to improve the situation. Even the city development plan report of JNNURM admits that the state of sanitation and water quality is not good in Varanasi.

Both water supply system and sewage system of the city are a century old. The water supply system was introduced in Varanasi in 1892 while underground sewer network was first provided to the town during 1891-1917. However, with increase in population, water and sewage network was also expanded in the course of time.

According to report, initially water supply system was designed for the population of two lakh only, with a treatment plant of 33-mld at Bhelupur. With increase in population and corresponding water demand of the city, capacities of different units were increased from time to time in stages along with reorganisation and extension of distribution system. The lifeline of Varanasi is the Ganga, which takes care of approximately 45 per cent of the water supplied in the city while 50 per cent water supply is made through 112 deep tubewells operated by Jal Sansthan and remaining five per cent is supplied by publicly and privately owned handpumps. The raw water extracted from the Ganga at Bhadeni gets treated at two water treatment plants at Bhelupur water works. There are 17 overhead tanks (OHTs) with total storage capacity of 17.8-mld along with seven underground reservoirs (UGRs) with total storage capacity of about 62-mld. The length of the distribution network is 590-km. As far as the quality of water is concern, it is below the ISI standards.

In a study conducted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), it was observed that water in the middle stretch of the Ganga from Kanpur to Varanasi was highly polluted. At city level, Jal Sansthan is responsible for monitoring the water quality. Since the Jal Sansthan does not have its own laboratory, the collected water samples are sent to Lucknow for testing.

Similar is the situation of sewage system. According to JNNURM report, the situation and coverage of sewer network in Varanasi is very poor. Presently only 30 per cent of the total area is provided with underground sewer network. The existing sewer network caters primarily to the old city, comprising mainly of the ghat area. The entire trans-Varuna area and nearly 50 per cent part of cis-Varuna area is not connected with sewerline. Total sewage generated in the city is 240-mld of which only 90-mld is treated in sewage treatment plants (STPs) constructed under the first phase of the Ganga Action Plan (GAP) and the remaining 150-mld is directly discharged into the Ganga and Varuna through open drains.

On sanitation front, the city still lacks a proper waste management system. The municipal solid waste mainly comprises waste generated from households, market, commercial establishments, hotels, hospitals and small-scale industries. It has been assumed that local residents generate solid waste at the rate of about 425-gram per capita per day on an average. This average generation of solid waste includes local inhabitants and the floating population in the city, which is a prominent tourist place. Records show that the total quantity of waste generated in the city is about 600-MT/day, out of which approximately 450-MT/day of waste is collected while the remaining waste can be seen dumped on roadsides and other places. However, the process is on to establish a solid waste management system under JNNURM.

Similarly, the city also lacks a proper stormwater drainage system. Though a significant part of the city has open drains, they are used for carrying wastewater and during monsoon season they carry both wastewater and stormwater putting more pressure on the sewer network. The open drains carry a mix of storm and wastewater and empty into the sewerlines, increasing the load on sewage pumps and STPs, especially during rainy season.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/varanasi/Brainstorm-to-end-water-sanitation-problems/articleshow/6095907.cms

Cabinet hikes toilets' cost in sanitation campaign

Hindustan Times, Indo-Asian News Service, New Delhi, June 25, 2010,

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) Thursday approved an increase in the unit cost of a school toilet constructed under the Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC) from Rs.20,000 to Rs.35,000.

The unit cost in case of difficult and hilly areas will be Rs.38,500. The revised unit costs are effective April 1.

Announcing the CCEA decisions, Home Minister P. Chidambaram said the unit cost of anganwadi toilets being constructed under the TSC had been raised from Rs.5,000 to Rs.8,000 (Rs. 10,000 for difficult and hilly areas).

"There will be no change in the funding pattern and it will remain same as 70 percent by centre and 30 percent by state. The revision in unit cost of school toilets and anganwadi toilets will mean additional financial expenditure of Rs.353.74 crore," he said.

The increase in unit costs will enable construction of good quality toilets as per plan and specifications.

The TSC gives special focus to improved sanitation facilities in schools and anganwadis.

Source: http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/newdelhi/Cabinet-hikes-toilets-cost-in-sanitation-campaign/Article1-562810.aspx

Ecological toilets to save groundwater contamination

Rakesh K Singh, The Pioneer, June 18, 2010  New Delhi

The Union Rural Development Ministry will promote “ecological sanitation structures” in the rural areas to conserve water and prevent contamination of groundwater sources due to lack of wastewater disposal systems. The Ministry recently amended the guidelines of Total Sanitation Campaign, a programme to eradicate open defecation, to promote waterless urinals and specially-designed toilet seats to separate urine and excreta to producing organic fertilizers, free of cost.

“Waterless urinals concept can be promoted particularly for institutional toilet complexes, to save precious freshwater,” says a recent Union Rural Development Ministry communication to the State Governments.

Under conventional systems of sanitation, large quantities of treated water that is even suitable for drinking is applied for flushing and carriage of waste. Significant energy is also consumed for treating wastewater. Pathogens present in human excreta get mixed with water, causing spread of diseases, making the supply of drinking water expensive.

Human excreta and urine are rich sources of plant nutrients and can be used as fertilizers, by composting the same. Human excreta compost enriches the nutrient content of soil and improves productivity. Likewise, urine also has a good fertiliser value as it contains significant quantities of macronutrients for plant growth but a minimum gap of thirty days is required between its application to the soil and harvest of the standing crop.

The ecological sanitation structure consists of specially-designed toilet seat to separate urine and excreta at source. While the urine in such toilets is collected in a container, excreta is deposited into a closed chamber under the toilet seat. Twin chambers are required to be constructed above the ground level and dry soil/ash/sawdust is applied as dehydrating material to enhance composting. The second chamber is used after the first one is full. About six months after usage of a chamber ceases, it can be emptied for use as manure as it is free from pathogens, according to the communication sent to the States conveying the amendment to TSC.

Source: http://www.dailypioneer.com/263352/Ecological-toilets-to-save-groundwater-contamination.html

Sanitary napkin scheme for rural poor to roll out soon

Teena Thacker, Indian express.com, Jun 16 2010, New Delhi

To boost female health in rural India, the Union Health Ministry has okayed a scheme to provide sanitary napkins at “highly subsidised” rates to Below Poverty Line (BPL) girls in the age group of 10 years to 19 years.

The scheme will be rolled out in 150 districts out of the total 600 districts that will be covered under Phase I.

Of the 150 districts, 30 districts that will be covered in the first year include four southern states, Maharashtra and Gujarat. The rest of the districts are in the northern, central and the Northeastern states.

A Mission Steering Group of National Rural Health Mission, comprising Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad; deputy chairman, Planning Commission, Montek Singh Ahluwalia; HRD Minister Kapil Sibal; and Minister for Rural Development CP Joshi, met on Tuesday and cleared the Rs 150 crore-scheme.

The programme will be implemented through the state and district levels. The final delivery point for a girl will be through Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) or school teachers. The government has estimated that each month, ASHA will procure 70 packs of sanitary napkins at the rate of Rs 4 per pack for sale to Above Poverty Line girls and 30 packs free for sale to BPL girls.

Anshu Gupta, founder director, Goonj, an NGO which provides biodegradable sanitary napkins in various parts of the country, said, “The government will have to look for a viable way to produce sanitary napkins. It is also important to see how we broach the subject in the villages.”

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Sanitary-napkin--scheme-for-rural-poor-to-roll-out-soon/634318