Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan Leads Meeting on World Bank-Funded Uttarakhand Water Supply Program in Emerging Areas

<img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1Cc9ul" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1Cc9ul.jpg"/> <div class="content count-br"> <p> <p> Dehradun ( Uttarakhand ) [India], April 3 (ANI): With an aim to reduce electricity costs for tubewells throughout the state, Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan Has instructed the Department of Drinking Water and other relevant departments to develop an action plan for installing solar energy systems by identifying unoccupied areas. </p> <p> The Chief Secretary further instructed that obtaining a groundwater level report should be mandatory prior to setting up tube wells, and this report must be provided to both the Drinking Water Corporation and Jal Sansthan for regions facing severe drinking water shortages. </p> <p> Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan presided over the 12th High-Level Committee (HLC) meeting on Wednesday at the Secretariat, focusing on topics pertinent to the discussion. World Bank -assisted Uttarakhand Water Supply Program (2018-2025) in peri-urban areas. </p> <p> The Chief Secretary has instructed to keep up the continuation of positive procedures under World Bank -aided Uttarakhand Water Supply Program (2018-2025) in suburban regions. He provided directives for ensuring 100% water quality, uninterrupted water supply, sustaining an efficient energy consumption level during pumping operations to conserve electricity, achieving high levels of customer satisfaction, and continually enhancing the system for addressing complaints. </p> <p> During the meeting, the Chief Secretary endorsed the final adjustments across multiple programs. Uttarakhand Payjal Nigam and Uttarakhand Jal Sansthan. </p> <p> It was stated during the meeting that the World Bank -aided Uttarakhand Water Supply Program The (2018-2025) initiative in suburban regions with a budget of Rs 1,042 crore is set to conclude on June 30, 2025. </p> <p> The World Bank 'Ss contribution to the project is ₹ 834 crore, and the Uttarakhand The government's contribution amounts to Rs 208 crore. This initiative covers 22 cities and spans across five districts within the state. Dehradun Tehri, Haridwar, Nainital, and Udham Singh Nagar. </p> <p> As part of this initiative, the aim is to guarantee a daily water supply lasting 16 hours, maintaining a minimum pressure level of 12 meters, and benefiting 4.35 lakh individuals from the intended beneficiary group at an allocation rate of 135 liters per capita per day. The scheme includes installation of meters along with full cost recovery through volume-based pricing. </p> <p> Authorities from the water supply division reported that 22 projects have been finalized under the initiative, resulting in 1,08,755 new connections being issued. This represents a 24% increase over the targeted number set by the program. </p> <p> The World Bank Has shown total contentment regarding the execution of the mentioned project. </p> <p> The Secretary along with officials from the finance department, additional secretaries, and relevant department officers attended the meeting. (ANI) </p> </p> </div> Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. Syndigate.info ).

Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan Leads Meeting on World Bank-Funded Uttarakhand Water Supply Program in Emerging Areas

Dehradun ( Uttarakhand ) [India], April 3 (ANI): With an aim to reduce electricity costs for tubewells throughout the sta...

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WaterAid Installs 12,000-Litre Water Plant to Transform Health Centre

<p> WaterAid Nigeria has set up a water facility with a 12,000-liter capacity at the Odo-Nla Primary Healthcare Centre in the Ikorodu North LCDA of Lagos State. This initiative aims to enhance effective healthcare services. </p> <p> This information was included in a statement shared on Wednesday on the official X page of the Lagos State Government. </p> <p> The announcement revealed that the water plant setup was an integral component of a larger refurbishment project conducted at the PHC center, which also encompassed the provision of water, sanitation, and hygiene maintenance equipment. </p> <p> At the opening ceremony of the refurbished PHC, the Country Director of WaterAid, Evelyn Mere, highlighted that their organization is dedicated to enhancing Nigeria’s healthcare infrastructure via better access to water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities. </p> <p> WaterAid is committed to making sure each healthcare center in Nigeria, such as Odo-Nla PHC, has access to lasting improvements in water supply, sanitation facilities, and hygiene practices. </p> <p> "Our collaboration with Ikorodu North LCDA and Lagos Health District II embodies our common objective to develop more secure healthcare spaces for patients and personnel alike," she stated. </p> <p> During her address, the Permanent Secretary of Lagos State Health District II, Dayo Lajide, emphasized that the refurbishment will establish a more favorable environment for delivering healthcare services in the region. </p> <p> She encouraged the locals in the region to utilize the improved medical center for better health services. </p> <p> Lajide stated, "The WASH kits play a crucial role in our approach to make sure health care centers serve as more than just sites for treatments; they should be secure spaces safeguarding both patients and medical staff from avoidable illnesses." </p> <p> Apart from the structural changes, this refurbishment has resulted in an environment that better supports healthcare services. </p> <p> We have additionally established wellness clinics aimed at promoting preventative care, and we urge our parents, children, teenagers, and seniors to fully utilize the enhanced facilities. </p> <p> She ended her statement by urging both the local residents and healthcare providers to ensure they sustain the improved medical center. </p> <p> During his address, Adeola Banjo, the Executive Chairman of Ikorodu North LCDA, emphasized that the provision of the facility along with the maintenance kits would enhance hygiene practices and health services in the region. </p> <p> "The inauguration of these WASH maintenance kits represents a crucial milestone for us. This indicates clearly that we are heading in the right direction to enhance sanitation and hygiene at our healthcare facilities, which will ultimately benefit the inhabitants of Ikorodu North LCDA," Banjo stated. </p> <p> The inauguration was completed with an official signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between WaterAid Nigeria and Ikorudu North LCDA. This document strengthens their ongoing dedication to maintaining the enhancements achieved at Odo-Nla PHC over the long term. </p> Provided by Syndigate Media Inc. ( Syndigate.info ).

WaterAid Installs 12,000-Litre Water Plant to Transform Health Centre

WaterAid Nigeria has set up a water facility with a 12,000-liter capacity at the Odo-Nla Primary Healthcare Centre in the Ikorodu North LC...

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Water Crisis Intensifies Along Sindh Coastline

<p> <p> The coastal regions of District Sujawal and Thatta have faced severe water shortages over the last several months, offering little relief as yet. "Water is essential for life, and we've been denied this basic right," states Sattar Machi, a local from Union Council Karmalak within Tehsil Jati, underscoring the crisis impacting these seaside communities. </p> <p> Based on details shared by officials from the Sujawal district irrigation department, the primary water sources feeding the coastal regions—such as Jati, Ladiyo, Chuhar Jamali, and Shahbunder—are experiencing severe shortages because of reduced water levels below Kotri. Given that Sindh faces a total shortfall of 47%, these coastal zones in the province may soon encounter drought conditions. </p> <p> Allah Bux Temro, a local farmer, noted that standing crops like cotton and tomatoes were wilting. The circumstances in these regions have become critical, with both men and women having to cover great distances to collect water for drinking and everyday needs. </p> <p> A local inhabitant named Ali Akbar Thaheem revealed that the groundwater along the shoreline has become saline, forcing the community to use water that could lead to various health problems. </p> <p> In these regions, women obtain water from nearby vendors who transport it using donkeys and mules to reach the town centers within the district. Rasool Bux Bario, one such vendor, mentioned that he charges 150 rupees for a canister of water. However, individuals in distant locations often struggle to make payments promptly because they face financial hardships and lack sufficient economic prospects. </p> <p> The ongoing water scarcity has not only caused misery for locals but has also endangered the ecological integrity of the area. Once teeming with life, the riverbed of the Indus is now buried under layers of sand. The degradation of the Indus Delta continues due to insufficient water released after passing through the Kotri Barrage. </p> <p> According to water specialist Naseer Memon, extracting additional water from the Indus River could exacerbate the challenges faced by the coastal area of Sindh. He also asserted that the current water shortage has surpassed levels seen over the past 25 years in the tail-end regions of Sindh, specifically affecting Thatta, Sujawal, Badin, and Tando Muhammad Khan. </p> <p> Supporting this claim, Obhayo Khan Khushik, an agronomist and ex-Chief Engineer of the Irrigation Department of Sindh, called upon the federal government to assess conditions in the downstream regions of Sindh prior to building new canals along the Indus River. He cautioned that insufficient water supply could exacerbate seawater intrusion into the area, potentially leading to the demise of the Indus Delta. </p> </p> Provided by Syndigate Media Inc. ( Syndigate.info ).

Water Crisis Intensifies Along Sindh Coastline

The coastal regions of District Sujawal and Thatta have faced severe water shortages over the last several months, offering little reli...

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