Survey shows mixed results of the National Urban Sanitation Policy launched in 2008, illustrating that 31 million urban households have inadequate sanitation facility and industrial townships like Jamshedpur and Rourkela do better than metropolitan cities. In ranking the cities for sanitation facilities, Chandigarh tops the list with a score of 73 points, while Churu in Rajasthan is at the bottom.
Iron-ore extraction leads to manganese contamination in rivers and lakes of the mining belt leading to drinking water scarcity in the state. Over a 100 open cast mines streaked with iron and manganese deposits, most of which have already pierced through the state’s water table at nearly 60 mts, have resulted in an increased content of manganese in the several rivers and lakes located within the state’s mining belt and also triggered a water shortage.
Opposition stages a walk out from the Assembly during the presentation of the Kerala State Water Resources Regulatory Bill 2013, alleging that the State Government was trying to privatise drinking water and put curbs on the basic right of the citizens.
Though summer is yet to begin, Tamil Nadu already faces a water deficit of 11%, finds a recent study. Water experts say a deficit at present means that the state is set for an acute water crisis in the coming years, and blame the situation on the lack of serious conservation efforts.
India’s water usage patterns border on being criminally negligent. Parts of the country face elevated water stress while others waste huge amounts by growing crops unsuited for their agro-climatic zones. A better option for the policy would be to align use with the cost of delivering water by initiating a cost-plus pricing formula for water.
This is a roundup of important news from April 7 – 13, 2013.