The News Review:
- Two hot topics: Fire and water
- Water Crisis at Demra
- Army deployed at supply points as city seethes with rage
- Backcountry water: wellsprings of worry
- Mega water project uncertain if deals not signed by this month
Two hot topics: Fire and water
USA Today – May 14, 2006
The answer: Not really. Any product labeled “spring water” must come from a spring, and those labeled “artesian well water” must be just that (water from a well that taps a pressurized underground water supply) under Food and Drug Administration rules. They get the same safety testing as other bottled waters, but they have no greater guarantee of safety. And no bottled water, whatever its source, has any special, proven health benefit. Tap water is almost always just as good — and cheaper. Last week’s column on sunscreens prompted Ted Sorce of Tampa to ask: “Do sunscreens expire?”Yes, says the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Water Crisis at Demra
Daily Star – The Daily Star – May 14, 2006
May 14, 2006 Star City Water Crisis at DemraTo have or not to haveRaihan SabuktaginWater supply situation has improved in city’s Shanir Akhra and its adjacent areas since violent demonstrations for water and power on May 5, but the residents of other surrounding areas in Demra and Shyampur are still facing severe water crisis. People of Rasulpur, Mridhabari, Muradpur, Kajla, Jurain and Sontek areas alleged that they are not getting adequate water supply. ‘The movement for water and power is partially successful as people around the Shanir Akhra and its adjacent areas are getting water supply regularly since the agitation,” Ashfaq Ahmed, a resident of Matuail, told this correspondent on Friday. Locals said the authorities had the capability of supplying water regularly but they did not. “How can the authorities now supply water despite continuous power failure?” asked Altaf Mahmud, a restaurant owner at West Matuail…
‘The movement for water and power is partially successful as people around the Shanir Akhra and its adjacent areas are getting water supply regularly since the agitation,” Ashfaq Ahmed, a resident of Matuail, told this correspondent on Friday. Locals said the authorities had the capability of supplying water regularly but they did not. “How can the authorities now supply water despite continuous power failure?” asked Altaf Mahmud, a restaurant owner at West Matuail. “Before the demonstration I had to spend between Tk 100 and Tk 125 to fetch water daily from other areas but since the demonstrations, water is available in WASA line all the time,” he said. “Now I don’t have to spend extra for water anymore. “Moslem Uddin Masud, a leader of the Demra-Shyampur Sangram Parishad, said the authorities are supplying water only to those areas where people came out on the street to demonstrate for water. Minara Begum, a housewife in Kajla area, expressed frustrations over the lack of water supply.
Army deployed at supply points as city seethes with rage
Daily Star – The Daily Star – May 14, 2006
May 14, 2006 Front Page Deepening Water CrisisArmy deployed at supply points as city seethes with rageStaff CorrespondentThe army were deployed at different pumps and water treatment plants in the city to assist the civil administration in water supply management as opposition workers demonstrated yesterday at Mirpur and Ramna demanding uninterrupted water and power supplies. The Demra-Shyampur Sangram Parishad yesterday held meetings in different areas to mobilise people in its campaign for water and power. Meantime, the 14-party opposition combine has announced sit-in programmes in front of the offices of Water and Sewerage Authority (Wasa) and Dhaka Electricity Supply Authority (Desa) today. “Members of the army have been set out at the city water pumps at Fakirerpool, Lalbagh, Mohakhali, Lalmatia and Mirpur, water treatment plants at Sayedabad and Godnail of Narayanganj, and Wasa control room at Kakrail to assist the Wasa in lifting and distributing water,” said a press release of the Inter Services Public Relations. The army will also distribute water at different parts of the capital from its own vehicles and Wasa water tankers, the release said.
Backcountry water: wellsprings of worry
San Diego Union Tribune – May 14, 2006
The 57-year-old system supplies water for his family and 32 neighbors. “It takes some dedicated people to run a system to keep it in shape,” he said. “You just can’t let it sit there. The systems are typically managed by an owner or a volunteer board of directors. Generally, anyone can get a permit to start a system if they prove to the county they have the money, training, management skills and customers to warrant one…
They must keep the water clean, set rates, bill customers and notify them when the water is unsafe. They also must learn about a plethora of laws and regulations. Federal law requires small systems that regularly supply drinking water to meet the same quality standards as those for a big city. Most systems set their own rates, with little government oversight. Larry Linder, general manager of the Borrego Springs Community Service District, said the cost of running the systems means “they are either going to have higher rates or they are going to fail. ”The average customer of the Borrego Springs system pays $45 a month, $5 less than the state average, but Linder said other services such as trash collection help balance the books. In Guatay, a spot along Old Highway 80 in East County, typical water bills run from $40 to $100 a month.
Mega water project uncertain if deals not signed by this month
Daily Star – The Daily Star – May 14, 2006
Another mission led by Italian representative for the project Albarto visited Bangladesh last month, and along with the Italian envoy held discussions with the authorities here and submitted a draft financial agreement. The draft proposed zero interest on the offered loan for the project and repayment period of 38 years, which was to start after a grace period of 18 years, sources said. But the agreements are yet to be signed due to sheer negligence of the External Resources Division (ERD), alleged sources. “We have sent several letters to ERD on the matter in the last five months” said Chittagong Wasa Chairman Moksumul Hakim. “If the agreements are not signed before expiry of the PG and the contractor is reluctant to work at the price offered several years back, we may have to start the tender process and other related matters afresh,” he said. In that case implementation of the project might be delayed by several years, and the acute water crisis in the port city would continue, he added. Project Director Abul Quashem said after the expiry of the PG, it won’t be possible to encash the PG money that amounts to over 10 crore to hold back the selected contractor of the project…
In that case implementation of the project might be delayed by several years, and the acute water crisis in the port city would continue, he added. Project Director Abul Quashem said after the expiry of the PG, it won’t be possible to encash the PG money that amounts to over 10 crore to hold back the selected contractor of the project. Meanwhile, implementation of another project — Mohara Water Supply Project with a production capacity of 90 MLD is likely to start soon.