The News Review:

- Law to check water theft soon
- Water connections is a vital issue
- It’s time to restructure the approach to infrastructure
- Council water valves ‘being stolen for scrap’

Law to check water theft soon
Hindu – Sep 27, 2006
Premachandran said in the Assembly on Tuesday. Replying to a debate on demands for grants for water supply and sanitation and irrigation, the Minister said squads would be formed to detect the theft. The Kerala Water Authority was losing Rs…
Premachandran said in the Assembly on Tuesday. Replying to a debate on demands for grants for water supply and sanitation and irrigation, the Minister said squads would be formed to detect the theft. The Kerala Water Authority was losing Rs. 44 crores a year owing to water leakage and theft. Every day, though it treated 1,835 million litres, it could bill for only 1,101 million litres.

Water connections is a vital issue
Hindu – Sep 27, 2006
The town has received `zero garbage town’ status by implementing various measures such as night sweeping. Other major demands of the public are underground drainage and adequate supply of drinking water. As far as the UGD project is concern, Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board has started the preliminary work. New scheme The municipality has also chalked out a new water supply scheme at Rs. Officials are waiting for technical sanction for the scheme…
Other major demands of the public are underground drainage and adequate supply of drinking water. As far as the UGD project is concern, Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board has started the preliminary work. New scheme The municipality has also chalked out a new water supply scheme at Rs. Officials are waiting for technical sanction for the scheme. People are demanding the establishment of a new bus stand.

It’s time to restructure the approach to infrastructure
The Age – Sep 27, 2006
■Fully laden, new-generation container ships are unable toenter Port Phillip Bay due to draught clearance requirements. ■Energy usage is approaching current maximum baseloadgenerating capacity. ■Water supplies and water-related infrastructure areinadequate to meet forecast demand, particularly in rural andregional communities. With the population of Melbourne expected to increase by 1million people by 2030, and in light of the typically long leadtimes associated with commencing and completing majorinfrastructure projects, action is needed now. A sense of urgency must apply to identifying priorityinfrastructure projects that have a major bearing on industry andtrade competitiveness. Some of the most pressing priorities for the Victorian businesscommunity were foreshadowed at the Victorian Employers’ Chamber ofCommerce and Industry Victoria summit last year. While Melbourne’s present road and rail infrastructure stock isgenerally seen as adequate, congestion bottlenecks in majorinterchanges, such as the city end of the Monash and Easternfreeways, have intensified…
The good news is that recentconservation strategies and campaigns have been highly successfulin reducing water consumption. However, given the likelihood ofcontinuing water shortages, combined with the population increase,greater efforts must be made to secure a long-term, sustainablewater supply. Increased investment is required in large-scale water treatmentand re-use facilities. Given the potential of the Eastern Recycled Water proposal, athorough examination of its viability is required to determine thespecific costs and benefits to both industry and theenvironment. Although telecommunications is largely the responsibility of theCommonwealth, state governments can do more to increase broadbandroll-out and uptake. Australia at present ranks below the OECD average in uptake ofbroadband. Research indicates that broadband could add $15 billionto the Victorian economy.

Council water valves ‘being stolen for scrap’
Independent Online – Sep 27, 2006
The pilot valves – used to automatically shut the water supply on and off – cost the municipality between R1 000 and R3 000. Now the Tshwane Metro Council is seeking the co-operation of Mamelodi and Eersterus residents in an attempt to protect its employees and equipment. The municipality intends hosting meetings with residents, ward committee members and other stakeholders in the two areas to discuss the issue of vandals who damage council property. The problem occurred when the pilot valves were stolen.