The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Visakhapatnam News : Hydrological cycle for urban areas mooted

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Thursday, Mar 26, 2009
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam

Hydrological cycle for urban areas mooted

Staff Reporter

VISAKHAPATNAM: A new hydrological cycle should be developed for urban areas to meet their growing water needs and provide protected water, Member of the National Technical Advisory Group of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission R.V. Rama Rao has said.

In his key note address at a two-day training programme on “Management of urban runoff through water conservation methods organised by the Department of Geo-Engineering of AUCE here on Wednesday, he enunciated the salient points of “Jalaraksha,” a new model for sustainable development of water regime in urban local bodies.

Contributions

He said the major contributions should come from rainwater harvesting, recycled water from sewage treatment plants, reuse of storm water, desalination and collecting of water from atmosphere.

Stressing the need for harvesting rainwater that flows from the surface into the sea, Prof. Rama Rao said any proposals to the mission should integrate water supply, underground drainage and storm water drainage.

He estimates that 40 per cent of water needs could be met by use of recycled water for flushing and raising greenery. The GVMC is now using water from its STP on the beach road. He also advocated ozonization of water for health reasons instead of chlorination.

Andhra University Vice-Chancellor Beela Satyanarayana mooted the setting up of water recycling and water conservation laboratory by the GVMC at the Geo Engineering Department. He said Andhra University would provide matching grant. GVMC Chief Engineer B. Jayarami Reddy, Engineering College Principal in-charge S. Ramamohan Rao, Head of the Department of Geo Engineering G. Jaisankar, programme convener V. Venkateswara Rao and co-convener E. Ammineedu spoke.

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