The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Pradeep Kariyawasam said yesterday the poor conditions of Colombo schools have contributed to the current outbreak of Hepatitis in the city. Dr. Kariyawasam said most of the small schools in the city lack basic sanitation facilities and the toilets were in very poor condition and lacked water supply. Some schools were found without proper drinking water facilities according to him. Schools have been subjected to inspection as it was found that the majority of the infected persons during the past two months were of school attending age. Accordingly there had been 39 cases of Hepatitis and all of them were reported to be school children. Dr. Kariyawasam explained the outbreak was reaching its peak level but was confident that it would be under control in a few weeks time. The CMC has carried out intensive house to house inspections and education programmes to prevent further spread of the disease. Thousands of leaflets have been distributed among the residents in Modera, Mahawatte, Mattakkuliya and Bloemendhal areas. Water samples were taken from the main lines and checked for germs and all were found to be negative. Dr. Kariyawasam explained the CMC has planned to carry out disinfection programmes in schools from today. All water supply points would undergo chlorination. "However, there has to be a long term plan to build proper toilet facilities and provide adequate water supply to these schools which are attended by children of marginalised families/communities in the city,' he said .

Reputed political and economic commentator, the Paris-born Erik Orsenna will visit Kolkata on 20 February to lecture on "Issues related to water supply and allied aspects' at the Indian Chamber of Commerce. The author of numerous essays and novels, a famous one being Voyage aux pays du coton petit pr

Kathmandu Valley Drinking Water Limited has officially taken over the responsibility of carrying out water supply works in Kathmandu Valley from Sunday. The responsibility to manage valley's water supply was given to the firm established as per the public-private partnership concept following pressures from the Asian Development Bank and other donors to the government to handover the water distribution responsibility in Kathmandu valley to an autonomous body. This was also the main precondition of the Melamchi Drinking Water Project.

Bosga Tank, that supplied water to the entire city of Gulbarga for over five decades, is now in a pathetic state. It is about time the tank was revived, writes Chandrahas Kotekar. Every living being on earth requires water, air and light. Without these, there is no life. At the same time, a village's neglect towards its water bodies - rivers, tanks and wells - means an apathy towards progress.

The Central Water Commission failed to secure an agreement between Delhi and Haryana over sharing of water and power from the Renuka Dam at meeting here on Monday. With Delhi refusing to give in to Haryana's demands and depart from the agreement signed in 1994 on sharing of water and power, the matter is now likely to be referred to the Planning Commission for a resolution. Haryana's demand for a share from the water and power that will be generated once the Renuka Dam is commissioned has struck a discordant note as Delhi has objected to the change in agreement.

The Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority have started primary works of its mega water supply line rehabilitation project involving Tk 1,450 crore. The ADB-funded project, titled