WASH News South Asia
News feed maintained by information specialists from IRC and partners.
India, Mumbai: soon, bottled water may replace public taps
15 Jul 10
The state of Maharashtra plans to replace public water taps in the slums of its capital Mumbai by safer bottled water. Maharashtra also hopes to generate an extra US$ 171 million to improve rural water supply through a one Rupee (2 US dollar cents) surcharge on bottled mineral water. The plans were presented by Maharashtra’s [...]
Nepal, Kathmandu Valley: one-fourth of bottled water ‘contaminated’
15 Jul 10
Bottled-water, which until a few years ago, was regarded a luxury is now a common sight in Nepali households, thanks to heightening shortage of potable water. However, the fast growing bottled-water industry is highly unregulated as studies have showed that one-fourth of the bottled water distributed in the market is contaminated. Pramod Koirala, senior food [...]
Pakistan, Karachi: 50% export industries in SITE shut due to water shortage
15 Jul 10
More than 300 industries located in the Sindh Industrial and Trading Estate (SITE) in District West are facing hardships because of a shortfall in water supply from the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB). ‘’Due to the water shortage, more than 50 per cent of export industries are closed and more are on the verge [...]
India, Bhopal: gas tragedy has nothing to do with pollution at site, says NEERI
15 Jul 10
The contamination of soil and groundwater at the Union Carbide plant in Bhopal has nothing to do with the 1984 gas leak disaster, according to a study released on [08 July 2010] by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI). Instead, the toxic wastes were dumped over a much longer period between 1969 and 1984. [...]
Sri Lanka, Trincomalee: France funding mega water supply scheme
14 Jul 10
Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and French Ambassador Christine Robichon signed an Agreement to implement a mega water supply scheme in Trincomalee, a National Water Supply and Drainage Board spokesman said. The spokesman said this mega water supply scheme is to be implemented in Trincomalee at a cost of Rs 1,800 million [US$ [...]
Bangladesh: Govt to implement special rural water supply project
14 Jul 10
The government plans to implement the ‘Special Rural Water Supply Project’ at a cost of Tk 700 crore [US$ 98.6 million] to ensure supply of safe drinking water during and after natural disasters, and also to reduce water-borne diseases. The executive committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved the project on July 6, 2010. [...]
Nepal, Kathmandu: ragpickers earn US$ 275 a month
14 Jul 10
Ragpickers in Kathamandu earn more than top civil servants (gazetted first class officers) in Nepal, according to study by the Centre for Integral Urban Development (CIUD). Presenting a study report about the scavengers conducted in 20 places of Kathmandu Metropolitan and Lalitpur Sub-Metropolitan City, the CIUD said the professional pickers make more than Rs. 21,000 [...]
Asia: in the grip of water crisis, says Asian Development Bank
14 Jul 10
Asia is in the grip of a water crisis that could effect economic growth if left unresolved, said Arjun Thapan, special adviser to Asian Development Bank (ADB) president Harukiko Kuroda on water and infrastructure issues. Thapan was speaking at the 2010 Singapore International Water Week. “We believe that the estimate recently made about Asia having [...]
Bangladesh, Chittagong Hill Tracts: pipe dreams become a reality
14 Jul 10
A water scheme, costing only US$ 2,600, has transformed an entire village. In Paglimukh Village where 180 residents now have access to tap water, public health has improved, adults spend more time at their work, and children spend more time at school. The villagers got their water system as part of the Chittagong Hill Tracts [...]
India, Kerala: tribunal to claim US$ 46 million compensation from Coca-Cola
14 Jul 10
The Kerala state cabinet has set up a Plachimada Claims Tribunal to realise compensation of Rs 216.26 crore (US$ 46.2 million) from Hindustan Coca Cola Beverages Company for the ecological damages it caused Plachimada village in Palakkad district of Kerala. The tribunal was announced on 30 June 2010 in the wake the recommendations of a [...]
