Rajasthan’s Barmer district has received the country’s first mobile-any-time-water kiosk that dispenses chilled water for the community. The initiative is a part of the corporate social responsibility of Cairn India that is supporting the state government in providing safe drinking water. Along with this, there are plans to set up 333 small scale ATW plants (1,000 to 3,000 litres per hour capacity) in the state over the next three years.
Under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) project, the Maharashtra government has sanctioned a Rs 228 crore drinking water supply scheme for Nagpur. The scheme envisages laying down of feeder main pipeline network of 60km in length with 42 elevated service reservoirs that will cater to over 2,000 unauthorised layouts benefitting around 5 lakh citizens. Along with this, the scheme will also boost Nagpur Municipal City's smart city plan of which a proper drinking water supply is a part.
As per a recent study, the high magnitude of the recent floods in Greater Hyderabad was a result of indiscriminate urbanisation and encroachment of drains. Despite the rainfall in the region this year being lower than the previous years that witnessed flood, the magnitude of destruction and damage was higher. Between August and September 2016, coastal Andhra and Telangana witnessed heavy rains which resulted in floods and eventual loss of life, crops and infrastructure.
With an estimated cost of Rs 285 crore, the Telangana government would be taking up modernisation of Musi irrigation project to avail water from the project’s catchment area in Nalgonda district. The project work will commence in the coming summer season. The aim of the project is to uplift the irrigation projects that were neglected during the previous government.
Agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh has announced integrated farming on 100 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) spread across the country. The objective of the initiative is to enhance the income of farmers as KVKs play an important role in promoting agriculture. Along with this, fisheries will also be promoted to double the farmers' income. Also, the government has reconstituted 645 KVKs and is planning to open 106 more.
This is a roundup of important news from October 23-31, 2016. Also, read policy matters this week.