The News Review:

- Parts of Hubli-Dharwad to get 24-hour water supply soon
- METRO, 8 MAJOR CITIES FACE SEVERE WATER CRISIS – ANGARA
- Rajasthan Govt. officials to review Narmada project works
- Water-supply workers win
- KWSB starts work for restoration of water supply for Karachi from…

Parts of Hubli-Dharwad to get 24-hour water supply soon
Hindu – Jun 27, 2006
Mathad said the authority of fixing and revising appropriate water tariff in the wards under the pilot project rested with the corporation and no property related to the water supply system had been transferred to any private company or person. He said it was not a move to privatise water supply. The implementing agency would be operating and maintaining the system for two years after which it would be handed over to the government agency concerned. To another question, Mr. Shellikeri said under the pilot project, poor families would be supplied water at subsidised rates. And based on the quantum of use, the consumer had to pay according to the tariff fixed by the corporation, he said.

METRO, 8 MAJOR CITIES FACE SEVERE WATER CRISIS – ANGARA
Philippine Headline News – Jun 27, 2006
Edgardo Angara said yesterday. Quoting a study conducted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Metro Manila home to 11 million people and one of Southeast Asias largest urban centers is one of the nine major metropolitan areas deemed "water-critical" by the JICA study, Angara said. The eight other cities in danger of losing their water supplies are Metro Cebu, Davao, Baguio, Angeles, Bacolod, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro and Zamboanga. "Cebu, for instance, is going to dry up in five years, unless Bohol allows its rivers to be diverted so that Mactan can be fed with fresh water," Angara said, citing data from the JICA study. He said there is an urgent need for the government and private water companies to improve water management to sustain water supplies especially in the wake of global warming. "Water is going to be a critical issue. In 20 years, water demand is expected to rise almost three-fold…
"Water is going to be a critical issue. In 20 years, water demand is expected to rise almost three-fold. As water resources are unevenly distributed throughout the country, we can soon expect water shortages in highly populated areas unless we do something about it now," Angara said. Last year, United Nations issued a warning that the next expected root of conflict will be access to potable and safe water supplies. Angara said Parañaque City is already observing that its groundwater is salinizing, or growing salty, and that the province of Bulacan is similarly under threat of having no irrigation for its farms. Since the late 1970s, Parañaques groundwater levels dropped steadily after factories sprouted along the highway of the southern Metro Manila city and more subdivisions were built, forcing many residents to purchase water or build their own wells and install water pumps. "Moreover, the acute seasonal problem of lack of access to potable water has large economic costs, as well as profound impact on the quality of life," Angara said.

Rajasthan Govt. officials to review Narmada project works
Hindu – Jun 27, 2006
Gujarat is constructing a 458-km-long canal from the Narmada dam to the border of Rajasthan for supplying water and had completed the construction of a 358-km-long stretch nearly two years ago. The delay in the completion of the remaining portion has caused concern here and prompted the State Government to take up the matter with the authorities in Gujarat. State Water Resources Minister Sanwarlal Jat, presiding over a meeting of the Narmada Task Force here over the week-end, said the team would first go to Ahmedabad and then visit the construction sites. The officials will provide their feedback at the next meeting of the Task Force to be convened in July after their return. Jat said Rajasthan had developed adequate infrastructure in Jalore and Barmer districts to receive and transport the Narmada waters to distributaries and was eagerly looking forward to release of water from Gujarat. The State Government has created a new post of Chief Engineer for Narmada Project, to be headquartered at Sanchore in Jalore district, for effective monitoring and speeding up of works…
64 crores will be spent on strengthening the drinking water supply infrastructure in the outer areas in Jodhpur city. The Boongi-Rajgarh water supply scheme will also be implemented shortly , he said.

Water-supply workers win
Free Lance-Star – The Free Lance-Star – Jun 27, 2006
The Rapid Tappin’ team along with Dunavant’s Meter Madness win qualified the five men for nationals. State and national events were a mix of daily utility maintenance work combined with timed competitions. The events are hosted by the American Water Works Association, an international organization with more than 57,000 water-supply professionals from across the world.

KWSB starts work for restoration of water supply for Karachi from…
Free with registration – PPI – Pakistan Press International – AccessMyLibrary.com – Jun 27, 2006
–> COPYRIGHT 2006 Asia Pulse Pty Ltd Karachi, June 27 (PPI): Following the directives of Sindh Governor Dr. Ishrat ul Ibad, the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) has started work for the restoration of water supply for Karachi from Dhabeji. The Governor has strictly directed concerned authorities of KWSB to ensure alternate sources of water.