State to benefit as Centre plans to hike its share

The Union Government proposes to reward states that levy charges for canal water supply to the farm sector. Official sources said that the Centre would contribute an equal amount to what would be collected by the state government as water charges from the farmers. Punjab is one of the states that provide canal water free of cost to the farmers. Earlier, the state government used to levy “abiyana” on the farmers but it was abolished some years ago.

Entire City To Be Covered in Later Phases

Lucknow:UP Jal Nigam is planning to take steps to regularise water consumption and prevent its wastage by people. The corporation would soon be setting up water meters in all private houses across the city which get water supply from Jal Sansthan. In the first phase, the corporation plans to cover Indiranagar and Gomtinagar by September 2013.

‘Pune, Mumbai, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Thane Should Go For 100% Metered Supply’

Pune: Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan on Thursday said that the Pune city was not using water in a ‘sensible’ way and that such ‘luxury’ cannot be afforded on the backdrop of the unprecedented drought situation in the state. “There is severe drought in the state. Crops are drying and dairy business is affected. It’s a big challenge to keep the cattle alive… If we are not able to sustain drinking water supply, we will face an unprecedented situation... Pune is not using water in a sensible way... we cannot afford this luxury when the drought is so bad,” the chief minister said.

PUNE: Citizens of Pimpri-Chincwhad can expect to get 24x7 water supply within four years. The water supply project will be implemented in phases and the corporation is planning to get funds from the central government under the JNNURM, municipal commissioner ShrikarPardeshi said on Thursday.

Speaking at a two-day workshop on 24x7 water supply for Pimpri-Chincwhad, Pardeshi said the corporation has implemented a pilot project for 24x7 water supply at Yamunanagar in Nigdi. "We have achieved 80% success. We will replicate the pilot project at Premlok Park in Chinchwad and in the remaining two zones of the corporation."

In a move to curb the unbridled use of water and check pollution, the Government plans to introduce a system under which big industries will have to file ‘water returns’, on the lines of income-tax

Top planners of the country have asserted that pricing and rationing are the most important tools to make optimal use of the most precious natural resource - water - and achieve sustainable development even though states, bound by political compulsions and fiercely protective of control over water management, may never agree to it.

Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia says pricing of water and rationing by regulation are the most effective tools to stop the gross misuse of water resources, even though they are very difficult decisions.

With elections to the Delhi Assembly due by the end of 2013, Delhi Chief Minister and Chairperson of Delhi Jal Board Sheila Dikshit has instructed the Delhi Jal Board not to increase the water tariff from January 1.

A statement issued by the Delhi Government said as per a decision of the Board taken on November 30, 2009, the revision was due from the first day of the New Year.

People on City fringes aren’t in a hurry to complete formalities, despite water worries

People on the City’s fringes do not seem to be in a hurry to avail new water connections from Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), under the Cauvery IV stage II phase project that was commissioned in October. This despite facing severe water crisis.

The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board will ease the procedure for availing new water connections by introducing ‘self assessment’ by applicants. The Board is already accepting applications online.

Under the existing procedure, the applicants have to wait for an inspector from the Board to obtain details such as the dimension of the site, the number of floors in the house for which water connection is sought, etc