I am lucky to live in a green colony in the SCB area. In a city plagued with power shortage and facing severe water problems, I would like to share some of my thoughts on sanitation and water harvesting.
To begin with, let me recount a recent incident that has prompted me to write this piece. I met SCB Water Works superintendent Raj, in connection with a request for a water tanker. I was shocked by his attitude towards a genuine, law-abiding, tax-paying citizen. His first response was that there is no water to supply! When I reminded him that the SCB has been supplying water tankers to SCB staff and weaker sections in the colonies free of cost incurring a total expenditure of Rs 12 crore annually (of tax payer’s money) why can’t the same be made available for residents with payment of Rs 520? He asks me to get a water tanker from a private supplier and gave me the name of the supplier too!
When asked if the SCB has any program for residents in Rain Water Management, he looked like he had heard of it for the first time! The whole idea of mentioning this incident here is to show that our SCB departments seem to be headed by people who lack basic knowledge of water, health or sanitation management.
Here are a few of my suggestions.
Water problems:
Solution 1: SCB should construct overhead water tanks in colonies of the weaker section with the Rs 12 crore budget. Fuel used by water tankers can be saved and this will stop flow of funds into the pockets of private tanker suppliers.
Solution 2: Rain water harvesting in residential colonies with the help of expert advisers and consultants appointed by SCB. Residents to be asked to bear the cost.
Solution 3: All permission for borewells to be stopped and restrictions to be placed on drawing water from borewells without rain water management.
Drainage system inside residential colonies, inclu-ding management of gardens, to be maintained by both SCB and the residents.
Problems of Waste Management
Solution: Every resident must be encouraged to segregate and store his or her waste in four categories.
a) Medical waste (empty medical syringe & waste, nappies, sanitary napkins) to be collected daily. Medical waste incinerators to be installed in colonies with zero emission units. The total cost to be borne by residents.
b) Plastic waste (plastic covers, sheets, bags etc.) and paper waste (like newspapers, used papers, cardboards) to be sold.
c) Kitchen waste like vegetable and fruit waste, etc., to be collected daily. Recycle by vermiculture to make compost/manure in colony.
d) Electronic waste like old mixers and grinders, computers, vcds, dvds, radio, tv etc., to be collected once a month. The e-waste to be recycled by SCB.