Volume: 7  Month: April 2007
 

• News from Secretariat
• News from Members
• Press Releases
• Publications
• Events
• Vacancies

Core Group Meeting

The 14th core group meeting of WES-Net was held on the 19th February 2007 at SPWD’s office in New Delhi. WES-Net India’s annual report, with the broad activities for 2007, was presented by the chairperson. Discussions on database initiative, lecture series, registration process, research coordination update, etc., were also held during the meeting.
For more information, visit; http://tinyurl.com/2xb6yw

World Water Day

WES-Net jointly organized events on the occasion of the world water day. A press conference was organized at the India Habitat Centre in association with water digest, UNESCO and Plan International on the 22nd March 2007 in which the Hon’ble Minister for Water Resources Prof. Saifuddin Soz was the chief guest. 

Workshop on “Worsening Water and Sanitation Crisis”

A workshop on “Worsening Water and Sanitation Crisis: with a Special Focus on Children” was organized by WES-Net in association with Sphere India, SEEDS India and the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) on the 22nd March 2007. Members of WES-Net participated in the workshop and the outcome of the workshop would be utilized by CIFF to develop its interventions in the water and sanitation sector in India.

Newsletter

Water Digest, a premier magazine covering the water industry, has consented to design the printed version of the “WES-News”, the bimonthly newsletter of WES-Net, as its contribution to the network. The third issue of the printed version of WES-News, which is designed by Water Digest, was released recently.

Research Coordination

The first round of information collection as part of the research coordination initiative led by WaterAid will come to an end. Information collected so far would be documented and shared with members to identify gaps and to generate further discussions on priority areas of research. In this connection, a session on research priorities was facilitated by WES-Net during the visioning workshop organized by the solution exchange on the 14th February 2007. The session brought out some important priority areas of research.

WASMO Evaluation

WASMO, the Gujarat Government agency responsible for providing drinking water and sanitation in rural areas, invited members of WES-Net to take part in the evaluation of its interventions as external observers. Members from WaterAid, AFRPO, UNICEF and Plan, representing WES-Net, took part in the exercise carried out in Bhuj District.  A report based on the observations was prepared and shared with WASMO. The programme has successfully addressed some very positive aspects such as taking effective steps to involve communities in the whole process, reaching some of the remotest villages, involvement of NGOs, introducing effective organizational systems and good practices through the project, etc,. Need for taking steps to involve entire community especially women members in the process, strengthening capacities of the pani samithis, addressing water tariff issues prevailing in the villages, local level source development and sustainability, bringing accountability of the programme under panchayats, etc., were some of the recommendations made by the members to improve the effectiveness of the programme. 

Meetings/Events

Discussions with representatives of Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), Aragyam, CAP-Net, Utthan and APFAMGS have been taken up by members of WES-Net during this reporting period to discuss potentials areas of collaborations. WES-Net members also met Ms. Shanta Sheila Nair, Secretary, DDWS, GOI and briefed her about the network activities. She has kindly agreed to participate in the future network activities.

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Water Radio (From Nitya Jacob, Writeshop, New Delhi)

This article shows how community radio can change lives at the community level. Following the traditional hub-and-spoke model of communication, community radio shortens the length of the spokes and gives communities a powerful medium to speak out, challenge inefficiencies and corruption in governance, and get redressal. It provides a local-language medium of infotainment at an affordable cost that people can relate to. Community radio, made possible in India through a government order in November 2006, holds the promise of promoting local knowledge, networks and issues. It is particularly valuable for the water sector because, as this example shows, it can help in ‘last-mile’ distribution of information on water availability, weather, mandi prices and job opportunities during the off season in rural India. Radio can boldly step in where community internet centres have feared to tread, and do a better, cheaper job of bringing relevant information to communities.
For more information, visit, http://tinyurl.com/yos8e9

Good Governance and HRD: A Case of Partnership Oriented Water Project (From Durga Prasad, NIRD, Hyderabad)

The paper underscores the criticality of `Good Governance for Human Resource Development (HRD)’, even while dileaniting the key aspects of people-centered and people –managed decentralised safe drinking water and sanitation (DWS) projects in India--a major investment in Macro-HRD interventions. Capacity building of the poor (rural) communities for enhanced absorption of development goods, services and competencies is viewed as a necessary condition. It highlights the results of a self-reliance oriented Public-Private and Civil Society partnership –based DWS project, which holds promise for `Community managed and Good governance-based systems at the grass root level .The  Partnership initiative of the ` Bone Char-based Community and Domestic Defluoridation Systems in Nalgonda, AP’ is analysed and presented here. The paper concludes that `putting the instruments of change into the hands of the development consumers’ is the most effective and proactive strategy of user-managed and empowerment oriented sustainable development. The lessons learnt are outlined, and the distance to travel towards the goal of `improved overall quality of life of (rural) people’ is posed as a challenge.
The author requests members to forward their comments on the paper at durganird@gmail.com.
For more information, visit, http://tinyurl.com/26emv9

Water Harvesting Training (From Alka Mehta, AKRSP(I), Ahmedabad)

The training centre established by the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme(I) is located at Sayla in the drought prone district of Surendranagar in North Gujarat. The centre aims to provide awareness and knowledge on water harvesting to communities as well as professionals involved in the development field. The centre has all the necessary facilities to impart training to the needy. The centre has demonstrative models of water harvesting and efficient water management systems with a water quality lab facility. The centre is collaborating with agencies like CSE, PRAVAH and WASMO to improve and manage it services effectively.
For more details, visit, http://tinyurl.com/27gbc4

Managed Aquifer Recharge: An Assessment of its Role and Effectiveness in Watershed Management (From Mudrkartha Srinivas, VIKSAT, Ahmedabad)

The collaborative research study on “Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR): An Assessment of its Role and Effectiveness in Watershed Management” carried out in different hydro-geological settings aims to quantify the physical effectiveness of MAR and the socio-economic impacts in order to contribute to the debate on the development of understanding of water resource management. The study highlights some of the pertinent issues in the current ground water recharge approaches widely adopted in the watershed programmes and others. Absence of proper considerations for demand management, less focus on equity, uniform approach without the considerations for local physical and socioeconomic situations, neglect of effects on the down stream users/resources, etc., are some of the prominent issues raised by the study. The study recommends the need for greater research on scientific and institutional aspects to make informed choices at local level and for scaling up. The study also highlights the difficulties involved in assessing impacts of MAR on livelihoods due to several reasons. It concludes that projects which combine genuine participation with sound technical inputs would perform well.
For more information, visit; http://tinyurl.com/yv6w4a

Strengthing the Role of Safai Mitras (Ragpickers) in Solid and Bio-Medical Waste Management in Bihar (From Prabhjot Sodhi, UNDP-GEF, New Delhi)

Nidan, a NGO working in Patna, based on the lessons learnt during the ‘Chakachak Patna’ initiative of the Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC), decided to adopt a new strategy to demonstrate a sustainable system for solid waste disposal with the community effort. As a result, a programme called “Swachdhara” was initiated to mobilize participation and to introduce community based approaches through women SHGs to effectively tackle solid waste disposal in Patna city. The programme has successfully facilitated awareness creation among the people, helped in creating an interface between communities, officials and rag pickers and also demonstrated successful models of managing the solid waste through user’s contributions. At present, the programme covers 63,000 households with efficient waste management systems that includes improved working conditions among the workers involved.
For more information, visit;  http://tinyurl.com/265jyj

Economics of Watershed Treatment - A Case Study in Orissa (From Debadutta Kumar Panda, MP Associates, Bhubaneswar)

Watershed management is the harmonious development and management of soil and water resources, within the natural boundaries of a watershed so as to produce and process, on a sustainable basis, plants and animal products, for the equitable benefit of the people, while delivering clean and controlled water flow to the down streams. This case study of Khajuria Nala watershed management project located in Digapahandi block of Ganjam district of Orissa was undertaken to estimate the employment and income pattern of the beneficiaries, and to compare the cropping pattern and productivity of different crops under the impact of watershed development project. As a result of the interventions, higher productivity of crops and livestock and more employment generation helped in augmenting income and assets in the beneficiary village. The benefits accrued from the watershed project encouraged the farmer to maintain and to take soil and water conservation measures which minimized the degradation of the land, which in turn increased the production and productivity of crops.
For more information, visit; http://tinyurl.com/27uuql

Drinking Water Provisions in the Coastal Areas of Gujarat State (From R.K.Sama, WASMO, Ahmedabad)

Drinking water supply to villages of coastal Gujarat has been a major problem because of the high salinity of the ground waters caused due to the terrain, urbanization and unsustainable management ground water. Over the years, the problem of salinity ingress has affected 38 coastal talukas of 12 districts in the state. A total of 2542 villages are affected either by dynamic salinity or inherent salinity. An initiative to classify affected habitations based on the degree of problem and for taking up decentralized remedial measures such as percolation tanks and recharge wells was taken by Arid Communities and Technology (ACT) along with Sahjeevan during May-July 2005 in Abdasa taluka of Kutch in collaboration with WASMO. Based on this experience, WASMO has developed comprehensive plans to address the problem in seven taluks with the involvement of the communities and NGOs. Alternatives such as roof water harvesting, ground water recharge, renovation of water bodies, sealing of saline aquifer, RO method, solar distillation, etc., are being looked into. The programme would involve local communities to address the issue holistically.
For more information, visit, http://tinyurl.com/2523eq

River Water Management: Policy making and public intervention for conservation of water quality and quantity (From Ramakrishna Nallathiga, Centre for Good Governance, Hyderabad)

Water is a primary resource for several human activities, and rivers are a major source of water.  River water management is an important area of natural resource management that crosses several disciplines. Effective river water management requires public intervention through appropriate policy and institution.  This paper first discusses the rationale, strategies, valuation and principles of policy making in the context of river water management.  Subsequently, the need for using this policymaking framework in the context of critical state of Yamuna river water resource is discussed.  The paper emphasizes on a programmatic approach towards river water management using appropriate policy instruments for achieving the objectives.
For more information, visit, http://tinyurl.com/27nl2t

Tapping the Community’s Abilities (From AFPRO, Ahmednagar)

Kasarshirambe, a village located in Karad Taluka of District Satara in Maharashtra, is completing its water supply and sanitation facilities under the Jalswarajya project of the government of Maharashtra. The village, having a population of more than four thousand, was experiencing acute water shortage and poor sanitation facilities before the commencement of the project. Today, as a result of the interventions, the village has reliable water supply and 50% sanitation coverage, and the communities are effectively engaged in improving their lives.  Community mobilization and participatory planning process along with systematic IEC interventions taken up with the involvement of communities laid the foundation for this change. Involvement of the entire community in the process has led to tapping financial support from local banks for construction of sanitation facilities and creation of a resource centre managed by trained village youth called “Gramdoot” to provide assistance in repairing the structures for effective long-term sustainability of the initiatives.
For more information, visit, http://tinyurl.com/23ob48

Water Harvesting in Karheda School (From Lalit M. Sharma, Shegal Foundation, Gurgaon)

Mewat, a relatively backward district in the otherwise prosperous state of Haryana faces an acute shortage of drinking water supply, which is almost all pervasive. However, Karheda a village comprising of 2500 population, located in Nagina block, is an exception. This village has a water table of less than 6 feet, yet ironically it is highly saline and unfit for human consumption. With the active involvement of the communities, Sehgal Foundation initiated effective water management techniques to counter the problems being faced by them with an adage that small interventions can have big impacts.  For instance, school children in the village had to go to their homes to drink water during recess and lunch intervals as the sump constructed to store water from the distribution system and also linked to the roof water harvesting system was unhygienic and poorly built. The foundation’s initiative of implementing a recharge well to collect rainwater harvested from the roof of the school building has helped to solve the drinking water problems of the school children.
For more information, visit, http://tinyurl.com/2ydozq

Sewage Treatment in Srinagar City (From Bilal Ahmad Pandow, SAVE (J&K))

Srinagar city with a population of 1.1 million people generates around 161 MLD of sewage and it has just got one treatment plant with a capacity of 17 MLD which is defunct most of the times. Therefore, the sole sewage treatment plant (STP) at Brari Nambal treats only about the 10% of the quantity of sewage that is generated in the city, even when functional, and the rest is directly emptied into rivers and other water bodies without treatment. Lack of adequate and well maintained sewerage networks and the absence of detailed plans on the infrastructure needed in the city is the root cause of the problems faced. With the ever increasing population and growth of unauthorized slums, the sewage disposal problem is going to be a mammoth task in the coming years.

For more information, contact, Mr. Bilal Ahmad Pandow at  bilal4u2@gmail.com

Slow Poison in Drinking Water & Health Hazards (From Dr.R.C.Chhipa, Centre for Air & Water Modeling, Jaipur)

Water plays a vital role in functioning of all human activities. Drinking water consumed by human beings has nutritional value that proportionate the physiological activity of different organs including vitals such as kidney, heart and lungs. Polluted water infiltrates in the shallow soil layer and eventually enters into water reserves in the form of seepage. Polluted water, when consumed, affects various vital organs of the body and leads to diseases which are some times not curable. It is estimated that almost 2/3rd of pure water resources will be polluted by the year 2025, and human activities will have to depend on the polluted water for drinking water needs.  Therefore, water treatment requires careful monitoring & maintenance and needs a revolutionary work to make it fit for human consumption. This paper details various effects on polluted water on human beings.
For more information, visit, http://tinyurl.com/29cbg2

Indian Business Alliance on Water (IBWA) (From Kalyani, IBWA, Hyderabad)

IBWA is established to address the growing water crisis and provide water to all, with the engagement of all sectors of society, communities, public institutions and the private sector. The alliance is formed by the CII-Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre (CII - Godrej GBC) in partnership with the World Economic Forum. USAID is supporting the formation and the initial activities of the IBAW through a Global Development Alliance (GDA) grant, which is being managed by the United Nation Development Programme (UNDP). The alliance is committed to promote and facilitate sustainable water and watershed management through public private community partnership (PPCP) with the ultimate goal of improving the availability and quality of water for businesses, communities and the environment. IBWA invites Corporates, NGOs and Industries to submit requests for PPCP projects in water conservation and management. Projects that serve role model in multi stakeholder partnerships will have an advantage. For more details on project criteria, proposal format and other enquiries please visit the website www.ibaw-india.com or contact Mr.S.Vinayagam, CII at s.vinayagam@ciionline.org or Ms.Chandan Chawla, IBWA at chandan.chawla@undp.org.
For more information, visit, http://tinyurl.com/2zxzth

Awareness Campaigns and World Water

Members of WES-Net have communicated the events organized towards creating awareness among the communities. Some of the events organized by our members are as given below;

• Mrs.P.S. Gotur, a research scholar with the Karnataka University in Dharward, has successfully organized an awareness camp for 4 days on rain water harvesting to farmers with her own resources at the Krishi Mela organized by the Agricultural University. According to her, every individual must make sustained efforts to address the issue of water scarcity at various levels.
  For more information, visit, http://tinyurl.com/28yj5h
• Gramalaya, an NGO working in Tamil Nadu, organized a massive event on the occasion of world water day to create awareness among the communities, leaders and professionals. The event was attended by over 20,000 women members of SHGs. Several resolutions to be taken up in the coming years were passed by the members during the event to address water and sanitation situations in the area.
  For more information, visit, http://tinyurl.com/2xosdh
• Vigyan Vijay Foundation, an NGO working in New Delhi, organized events on the world water day in several slums to improve living standards of the communities through creation of awareness and education.
  For more information, visit, http://tinyurl.com/2b3ync
• WASMO, the government agency working in Gujarat, organized several events across the state on the occasion of world water day. Active participation of the communities in the events indicates the awareness and the need for water and sanitation facilities. Hon’ble Chief Minister of Gujarat Mr.Narendra Modi also held discussions with communities of Patan District to understand the issues and the steps taken up by them through video conferencing.
  For more information, visit, http://tinyurl.com/ytgk6c
• FORCE, New Delhi organized an event called “JAL TARANG 2007” on the occasion of world Water day. JAL TARANG is a unique ‘Water Festival’ with the objective of creating a harmonious platform where people learn to RESPECT water and to CONSERVE IT. The program aims to re-establish our emotional and intellectual connect with Water. Information on Water Conservation efforts is also shared. 
  For more information, visit, http://tinyurl.com/ysroy3

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http://www.arghyam.org/

‘Water for People’: Development Calls for papers
(Date: 21/03/07 Source: Sara Ahmed, GWA)

Development is the flagship journal of the Society for International Development (SID) (www.sidint.org/development) published quarterly by Palgrave Macmillan, London. Development is calling for papers for the March 2008 issue on ‘Water for People’. Kuntala Lahiri-Dutt of the Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies at the ANU and editor of such books as: Water First: Issues and Challenges for Nations and Communities in South Asia (Sage, New Delhi, forthcoming); and Fluid Bonds: Views on Gender and Water (Stree, Kolkata, 2006) will be guest editing this issue. Send the abstract of your paper by 4th May 2007 to Kuntala.Lahiri-Dutt@anu.edu.au, and on approval by the editor, submit the full paper (within 3000 words) by 30th October 2007.
For more information, contact; http://tinyurl.com/yv97kx

ARSENIC REMOVAL: SONO Household Water Filter Wins
(Date: 06/03/07 Source:IRC)

The US National Academy of Engineering (NAE) has announced the winners of the 2007 Grainger Challenge Prize for Sustainability. The contest sought innovative solutions for removing arsenic from drinking water in developing countries. Abul Hussam, an associate professor at George Mason University, USA, will receive the Grainger Challenge Gold Award of US$ 1 million (EUR 761,000)for his SONO filter used in Bangladesh and the Silver Award of US$ 200,000 (EUR 152,000) goes to a team led by Arup K.SenGupta for a community well-head arsenic removal unit serving about 300 households in West Bengal.  
For more information, visit, http://tinyurl.com/37x4cu

Mission Sustainability: Express Your Ideas (Date:27/02/07 Source: GCSD)

All over the world, people are facing the challenge of sustainability. Through their every day actions and sustainability initiatives, they want to pass on to future generations a world that is ecologically, socially and economically sound and intact. Do you want to inspire other people in the world and turn your enthusiasm for a sustainable way of life into concrete action? Then take part in Mission Sustainability! Take up the challenge and show us what you want to do for sustainability. An international jury will select the most creative entries and present them to the public. The best actions can expect great prizes.
For more information, visit, http://www.mission-sustainability.org/

Delhi Ranks Poorly in Solid Waste Management: Survey (Date: 22/02/2007 Source: The Hindu)

With highest per capital expenditure on solid waste management among Indian metros but with only one per cent of skilled personnel engaged in waste management, Delhi has faired badly in handling the solid waste, according to a survey conducted by FICCI on solid waste management in 35 cities of India. 
For more information, visit, http://tinyurl.com/28h8b6

India using shunned waste plant technology (Date: 04/02/2007 Source: Times of India)

Municipal Corporations of Delhi and Mumbai have signed MoUs to use incinerator-based waste disposal technologies now being phased out in Europe and the US for producing cancer-causing pollutants and heavy metals like lead and mercury.
For more information, visit, http://tinyurl.com/yonskk

5th World Water Forum in 2009 (Date: 1/02/07 Source: WWC)

The 5th World Water Forum will be held in Istanbul,Turkey  from 15 to 22 March 2009.  About 15,000 people from 150 countries are expected to attend the 5th Forum to discuss issues and solutions regarding water in the world. The World Water Forum, which is organized by the WWC every three years in collaboration with the authorities of the host country, is the largest international event in the field of water. The 4th World Water Forum was held in Mexico in March 2006.
For more information, visit, http://tinyurl.com/2gfs8f

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Groundwater Resources Sustainability Indicators  (Source UNESCO)

The IHP Series on Groundwater No. 14 publication edited by Jaroslav Vrba and Annukka Lipponen is based on the thrust for identification and development of indicators recognized as the cornerstone of the United Nations World Water Development Report (WWDR), the principal product of the World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP). Collectively, the UN agencies have resolved that a longer-term horizon for indicator development is needed. The set of groundwater indicators presented in this report is a short list derived from over one hundred conceptual water-related indicators. 
For more information, visit http://tinyurl.com/243bvy

Greywater Management in Low and Middle-Income Countries (Source: EAWAG)

This report compiled by Antoine Morel and Stefan Diener provides the international experience in greywater management on household and neighbourhood level in low and middle-income countries. . 
For more information, visit http://tinyurl.com/2ytdof 

Combating waterborne disease at the household level (Source: WHO)

A growing body of research has confirmed the key role that point-of-use water quality interventions can play in reducing diarrhoeal diesease in a cost-effective manner. This document reviews the case for managing water quality in the home, describes the Network and its objectives, gives a brief overview of low-cost technologies, and outlines some of the implementation challenges that lie ahead.
For more information, visit http://tinyurl.com/2ao6hp

Improving urban water services: Government engagement with Non-State Providers (Source: WELL)

This Briefing Note identifies how government can engage with Non-State providers of urban water, to enhance the delivery of effective and sustainable water services to poorly served areas in developing countries.
For more information, visit http://tinyurl.com/2zmqfy

Selected readings from Wastelands news “Forests and Water” (Source: SPWD)

Society for Development of Wastelands Promotion (SPWD) has recently published selected readings from its wasteland news published quarterly under the titles “Forests (3 volumes) and Water (1 volume)”. It is expected that this compilation of articles would provide the readers with comprehensive information.  To order a copy, please email to Mr. Farrukh Riaz at  frrkh_rz@yahoo.co.in.
For more information, visit, http://tinyurl.com/36s8cr

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Workshop on Water Treatment Technologies (From Meghna Bhaduri, Water Digest)

Water Digest is organizing a seminar to share knowledge, techniques and models to address water related problems and cost effective solutions on 20th – 21st April 2007 in New Delhi.
For more information, visit: http://tinyurl.com/3djqgn

Conference on Children's Health and the Environment (From Inches)

The 4th International conference on “Children's Health and the Environment - Reducing environmental risks for our children” will be held in Vienna during 10th of June – 12th of June 2007.
For more information, visit, http://tinyurl.com/2qe5qr

World Lakes Conference: Taal2007 (Source: Taal)

The 12th World Lakes Conference, in the series of conferences held every two years since 1985, under the aegis of the International Lake Environment Committee (ILEC) Foundation (Japan), will be organised at Jaipur (Rajasthan, India) at the invitation of the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), Government of India, New Delhi. The Conference will be held in Jaipur (Rajasthan) during 28 October to 2 November 2007.  Conserving lakes and wetlands for future would be the central theme of this event. 
For more information, visit; http://www.taal2007.org/index.asp  

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Programme Planning & Monitoring  Officer – Urban Sanitation and Livelihood

Organization: Fountain of Development Research and Action (FODRA)
Location: Delhi
Source: Madhab Nayak, Director, FODRA
URL: http://tinyurl.com/28quuk

Senior Programme Officer/ Programme Officer

Organization: Society for Promotion of Wastelands Development
Location: New Delhi
Closing date for applications: April 20, 2007
Source: DevNetJobs.org
URL: http://tinyurl.com/24kb87

State Consultant - Total Sanitation Campaign

Organization: PHED-UNICEF
Location: Bhopal
Source: April 20, 2007
Source: DevNetJobs.org
URL: http://tinyurl.com/23khxa

Water and Sanitation Deputy Manager

Organization: American Red Cross (ARC)
Location: Indonesia (Banda Aceh)
Closing date for applications: May 30, 2007
Source: ReliefWeb
URL: http://tinyurl.com/yo8n8k

Water and Sanitation Delegate

Organization: American Red Cross
Location: Sri Lanka (Matara)
Closing date for applications: May 22, 2007
Source: ReliefWeb
URL: http://tinyurl.com/26rwxh

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