Integrated Planning for Water & Sewerage System - P.K Jain, Technical Advisor - Meinhardt Group

Water scarcity is a growing concern for many parts of the world. In India in particular, high demand for water, coupled with water pollution, means that water reserves are being used faster than they can be replenished. This trend will accelerate in some areas, as population and economic growth lead to higher water consumption. India is plagued with serious water related problems. For instance, the major problem many Municipal Corporation and cities are facing at present is the high level of unaccounted-for water (UFW).

Keeping this in mind, the government has taken several initiatives. The most ambitious plan for abatement of pollution of water was launched by the name of Ganga Action Plan. Launched on 14th June 1985 by the then Prime Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi, Ganga Action Plan is a holistic approach in a planned way in the direction of abatement of pollution and in turn to make our water bodies fit as a source of drinking water. Ganga Action Plan was followed by Yamuna Action Plan and now National River Conservation Plan. The pollution abatement works under NRCP presently cover identified polluted stretches of 39 major rivers in 185 towns spread over 20 States in the country.

Thus Integrated Planning for Water & Sewerage System is a necessity for sustenance of life, good health and economic development. Water supply and sanitation is a State responsibility under the Indian Constitution. States may give this responsibility to the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI) in rural areas or municipalities in urban areas, called Urban Local Bodies.

At present, states generally plan, design and execute water supply schemes (and often operate them) through their State Departments (of Public Health Engineering or Rural Development Engineering) or State Water Boards.

The Central Govt assists the States by giving financial support for the centrally sponsored schemes. In order that the schemes are prepared adopting a uniformity of approach the Ministry of Urban Development has issued a Manual on Water Supply and Treatment and Manual of Sewerage & Sewage Treatment.

These manuals serve as a very good Guide for Planning & Design of Water Supply Systems both for urban and rural population and for Sewerage and Storm Water Drainage systems for the urban areas. The Ministry of Environment & Forests has come out with - " Guidelines for Preparation of Project Reports under National River Conservation Plan ( NRCP ) and National Ganga River Basin Authority in December 2010 for abatement of pollution of rivers."

Similarly Guidelines have also been issued under National Lake Conservation Plan (NLCP) for conservation of Lakes.

There is need to ensure that treated effluents from the STPs out falling into water bodies are such that the river or canal water is suitable for treatment in a conventional water treatment plant. In such a case the desirable BOD content should be 3 mg/L. In the absence of available dilution tertiary treatment of sewage is a necessity. This approach has been adopted by us at Meinhardt India for the Preparation of Comprehensive Master Plan of Sewerage for the cities of Raipur, Ranchi where the DPRs have been approved by the State governments and for the city of Patna. Therefore, the need of the hour is to encourage participation of both private and public sector in planning, development and management of water resources projects with a view to introduce innovative ideas, generate financial resources, and bring in better management practices.

Source : Equity Bulls

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