Compiled by Sunetra Lala, Water Community of Practice
From Harshvardhan Dhawan, Arghyam, Bangalore
Posted 05 January 2013
I am Harshvardhan Dhawan working with Arghyam on groundwater related issues. For the past several years Arghyam has engaged in various discussions on urban water related issues and has found that the contribution of groundwater to sustain urban growth is rarely acknowledged. Groundwater resources are complex in nature, and its systems have never been fully understood, which further leads to problems of quantity and quality. Rapid urbanization poses serious questions about the future of urban groundwater bodies like lakes, traditional water systems, wells, etc. which have played a significant role in the expansion of urban centers (small, medium and large towns/cities) and its economy.
In this context I request SE-Water members to please share with me the following:
- Names and details about organizations, institutions and individuals working on groundwater issues in urban areas in India.
- Please provide details about the related work/projects undertaken by them.
We will be glad to learn more about and understand the key individuals, organizations, institutions (apart from the government) who are working on groundwater in the urban context from SE-Water members. The experiences and information on urban groundwater will also help Arghyam with insights on the key groundwater related projects in urban centers in India and the approaches adopted to sustain groundwater resources.
Responses were received, with thanks, from
- Ashok Ghosh, A.N.College, Patna
- Sacchidananda Mukherjee, National Institute of Public Finance and Policy, New Delhi
- R. Jagadiswara Rao, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati
- Satya Prakash Mehra, Rajputana Society of Natural History, Udaipur
- P.S.Navaraj, Yadava College, Madurai
- Rahul Banerjee, Dhas Gramin Vikas Kendra, Indore
- V G Reddy, Rural Reconstruction & Development Society, Nellore
- Yogesh Jadeja, Arid Communities and Technologies, Bhuj Kachchh
- Mahesh Nathan, World Vision India, Kolkata
- Shubha, Biome Environmental Solutions, Bangalore
- Anil Lalwani, Well & Water Works, Pune
- Kalyan Paul, Pan Himalayan Grassroots Development Foundation, Ranikhet
- Faiyaz Basha, Chand Minority Welfare Association, Kurnool
- Ramakrishna Nallathiga, National Institute of Construction, Pune
- Devendra Singh Dhapola, Urban Infrastructure Expert, New Delhi
- Vidya Sagar Oruganti, REEDS, Yellamanchili
- Devinder Khetarpal, Quality Analyst & Labs P. Ltd, New Delhi*
*Offline Contribution
Urban water demand is rapidly growing in India due to high growth in urban population and rapid industrialization. Meeting this demand is a big challenge for urban planners in India. Incidentally, the large urban areas are experiencing faster growth in population, and most of them are in arid and semi-arid regions, which are naturally water-scarce. As a result, water supplies from local water resources including aquifers are falling short of the high and concentrated demands in most urban areas.
In addition, this growth in population is leading to encroachment of public areas such as lakes, etc. Members opined, as the public water supplies are unable to meet water needs through piped water, the only alternative left for urban dwellers is to develop groundwater on their own with the help of the available drilling agencies, pump dealers and mechanics.
Members also noted that the major problem in the urban context is groundwater contamination due to release of untreated sewage into the ground and its exhaustion due to excessive withdrawal. A solution for this problem is decentralised treatment and reuse and recharge of both grey and black water. Dhas Gramin Vikas Kendra has been working in this field and has developed a very low cost and effective model.
Several organisations are also involved in organising awareness programme with stakeholders, in addition to working closely with primary schools especially municipal schools on issues related to groundwater conservation. For instance, Arid Communities and Technologies has formulated a citizen's committee to implement different activities of watershed management including awareness, advocacy, etc.
To conclude, members suggested various options such as reverse osmosis and rainwater harvesting to address issues of groundwater contamination and depletion. Any attempts made in terms of hydrological renewal also need to include planting and protecting native species of trees and shrubs. Members expressed the need to look at forests as an integral part of sustainable water resource management.
Sustaining Urban Water Supplies in India: Increasing Role of Large Reservoirs (from Sacchidananda Mukherjee, National Institute of Public Finance and Policy, New Delhi)
Article; by Sacchidananda Mukherjee, Zankhana Shah and M. Dinesh Kumar; National Institute of Public Finance and Policy; Water Resources Management; 2010; Permission Required: Yes, paid publication
Available at http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11269-009-9537-8?LI=true
Explains how given the structure and pattern of population growth and water demands, large reservoirs will have a much bigger role in meeting urban water supply needs
They are reusing wastewater to the last drop (from Rahul Banerjee, Dhas Gramin Vikas Kendra, Indore)
Article; by. Venugopal Pillai; Times of India; Indore; December 2012;
Available at http://www.scribd.com/doc/119188507/DGVK-ToI-Water-Article
Discusses how Dhas Gramin Vikas Kendra has designed a low-cost decentralised system of water management
Rainwater harvesting for the Bangalore metro (from Shubha, Biome Environmental Solutions, Bangalore)
Presentation; by Biome Environmental Solutions Private Limited; Karnataka; 2012;
Available at http://www.slideshare.net/biomeshubha/rwh-for-bangalore-metro
Describes a Biome initiated project on behalf of Bangalore metro on building recharge wells along the metro tracks
From Sunetra Lala, Water Community
Deep Wells and Prudence
Book; by Sanjay Pahuja, Catherine Tovey, Stephen Foster and Hector Garduno. The World Bank; USA; 2010;
Available at
http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INDIAEXTN/Resources/295583-1268190137195/DeepWellsGroundWaterMarch2010.pdf (PDF; Size: 2MB)
Presents and overview of the groundwater situation in India, along with the legal and social contexts and suggests ways to reduce over-use of this resource
Judicious Management of groundwater through Participatory Hydrological Monitoring - A manual
Manual; by Dr. S. V. Govardhan Das; APWELL; Hyderabad; 2003;
Available at http://www.indiawaterportal.org/node/13136 (PDF; sIZE: 3.17MB)
This report developed under the APWELL project deals with participatory hydrological monitoring to sensitize the individual groundwater users on judicious use of groundwater
Recommended Contacts and Experts
Dr. (Mr.) Satya Prakash Mehra & Dr. (Mrs.) Sarita Mehra, Rajputana Society of Natural History, Rajasthan (from Satya Prakash Mehra)
HO - Kesar Bhawan, 16/747, P.No.90, B/d Saraswati Hospital, Ganeshnagar, Pahada, Udaipur 313001 Rajasthan; Tel: 91-294-2470690; drspmehra@yahoo.com; http://rsnh.cfsites.org/
Both are involved with the issues related with urban waters (including groundwater) in Rajasthan (southern and north-eastern parts)
Dr. P.S. Navaraj, Yadava College, Tamil Nadu (from P.S. Navaraj)
SH 72 Madurai, Tamil Nadu; Tel: 91-9442648168; navaraj678@sify.com; http://www.yadavacollege.org/
Working on the groundwater status of Madurai, Tamil Nadu and is creating a database on the groundwater status in Madurai District
Ramakrishna Nallathiga, National Institute of Construction, Maharashtra (from Ramakrishna Nallathiga)
Associate Professor, National Institute of Construction, Management and Research, 25/1, Balewadi, Pune 411045, Maharashtra; Tel: 91-20-66859146; Fax: 91-20-27291057; ramanallathiga@yahoo.co.uk; www.nicmar.ac.in/
Has done some work on the valuation of groundwater mining in Delhi
Devendra Singh Dhapola, Ministry of Urban Development, New Delhi (from Devendra Singh Dhapola)
Urban Infrastructure Expert, JNNURM Technical Cell, NBO Building, Nirman Bhawan, Ministry of Urban Development, New Delhi; dhapolaa@yahoo.com
Is working as Urban Infrastructure Expert in JNNURM, Technical Cell, Ministry of Urban Development and is involved in urban water related projects
Recommended Organizations and Programmes
Organization Name, Location (from Name, Organization, Location)
Boring Road, Patna 800013, Bihar; Tel: 91-612-2540482; principal@ancpatna.com; http://ancpatna.com/; Contact Ashok Ghosh; Professor-in-Charge of Department Environment & Water Management & Head of the Department of Botany; ashok.ghosh51@gmail.com
The Department of Environment and Water Management, A.N. College, Patna has been working on different issues related to groundwater in Bihar since 1996
Dhas Gramin Vikas, Madhya Pradesh (from Rahul Banerjee)
74, Krishnodayanagar, Khandwanaka, Indore 452001, Madhya Pradesh; Tel: 91-94259-43023; aarohini@rediffmail.com; http://www.rahulbanerjee.notlong.com; Contact Rahul Banerjee; Tel: 91-94259-43023; aarohini@rediffmail.com
Has developed a very low cost and effective model for decentralised treatment and reuse of both grey and black water
Rural Reconstruction and Development Society (RRDS), Andhra Pradesh(from V G Reddy)
Maruthinagar, Nellaturu (V) & (P), Gudur Mandal - 524103, Nellore District, Andhra Pradesh; Tel: 91-8624-222589; Fax: 91-8624-253133; rrds111@gmail.com; www.rrds.org; Contact V G Reddy; Project Director; Tel: 91-9440273310; rrds111@gmail.com
RRDS is working on issues of urban slum sanitation, and migration in the state of Andhra Pradesh
Arid Communities and Technologies, Gujarat(from Yogesh Jadeja)
26, Banker's Colony, Near Jubilee Ground, Bhuj-Kachchh 651531, Gujarat; Tel: 91-9979850931; act.pgwm@gmail.com; Contact Yogesh Jadeja; Geo-Hydrologist; Tel: 91-9979850931; yogeshjadeja@gmail.com
Has created a database on geohydrological characteristics of the Kachchh area including thematic mapping e.g. geology, geomorphology, watershed, landuse, etc.
World Vision India, West Bengal(from Mahesh Nathan)
#64, Raja Basanta Roy Rd, 2nd Floor, Southern Avenue/Rashbehari Jn, (Opp. Southern Avenue Allahabad Bank Building/Metro Stn: Kalighat), Kolkata 29, West Bengal; Tel: 91-33-24197245/6/7/8; Fax: 91-33-24197245; mahesh_nathan@wvi.org; www.worldvision.in; Contact Mahesh Nathan; Advisor WASH; Tel: 91-9831147934; mahesh_nathan@wvi.org
WASH is an important component of their approach and 31 Area Development Programmes are located in urban locations
Biome Environmental Solutions, Karnataka(from Shubha)
1022, 6th Block, 1st Floor, HMT Layout, Vidyaranyapura Main Road, Vidyaranyapura, Bangalore 560097, Karnataka; Tel: 91-80-41672790; contact@biome-solutions.com; http://www.biome-solutions.com/whatwedo/whatwedo_watersustainability.html; Contact. S.Vishwanath; Founder; Tel: zenrainman@gmail.com
Some of their major groundwater related works are primarily to do with groundwater recharge and assessment
Well & Water Works, Maharashtra(from Anil Lalwani)
1088 A, B1-2, Amritwel Society, Hare Krishna Mandir Path Model Colony, Pune 411016, Maharashtra; Tel: 91-20-25652486; contactus@wellwaterworks.com; www.wellwaterworks.com Contact Anil Lalwani; Owner Facilitators/ CTO; Tel: 91-9422084073; anil_62@yahoo.com
Has been working on groundwater issues in urban India since 1985 with its main area of operation being Pune and its surroundings
Pan Himalayan Grassroots Development Foundation, Uttarakhand(from Kalyan Paul)
Post Bag # 3, Ranikhet 263645, Almora District, Uttarakhand; Tel: 91-5966-221516, 240430; kpaul@grassrootsindia.com; www.grassrootsindia.com; Contact Kalyan Paul; Tel: 91-9412093286; kpaul@grassrootsindia.com
Has been involved with the restoration of river basin hydrology for two decades in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh
Chand Minority Welfare Association, Andhra Pradesh(from Faiyaz Basha)
H.No.41-419A, Kotha Peta, Kurnool 518001, Andhra Pradesh; Tel: 91-9441612957; cmwa_association@yahoo.com; Contact Faiyaz Basha; Secretary; Tel: 91-9441612957; faiz_knl@yahoo.com
Is engaged in water related projects in north-eastern parts of Andhra Pradesh with a focus on the rural sector
Rural Economic and Educational Development Society, Andhra Pradesh(from Vidya Sagar Oruganti)
27-99, Gandhinagar, Yellamanchili 531055, Dt. Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh; Tel: 91-40-23397141; Fax: 91-40-23392221 inforeeds@gmail.com; http://www.reeds.in/; Contact Vidya Sagar Oruganti; Tel: 91-9849946797; reeds_fish@yahoo.com
REEDS is working on water systems both in villages and urban municipalities in Andhra Pradesh
Quality Analyst & Labs P. Ltd., New Delhi(from Devinder Khetarpal)
270, Sector 37, Udyog Vihar 6, Gurgaon; Tel: 91-11-27310554; sales@qualityanalyst.net; www.qualityanalyst.net; Contact Devinder Khetarpal; Chemist; Tel: 91-9810098791, 9312430446; sales@qualityanalyst.net
Works closely with water treatment companies, industries and NGOs to provide safe drinking water
From Sunetra Lala, Water Community
Action for Food Production (AFP), New Delhi
25/1-A Pankha Road, D-Block, Janakpuri, New Delhi 110058; Tel: 91-11-28525452; Fax: 91-11-28520343 afprodel@afpro.org; http://www.afpro.org/services.htm; Contact S. C. Jain; Programme Coordinator; Tel: 91-11-28525412; scjain@afpro.org
Has been supporting community based groundwater management practices, including integrated watershed development programmes
Lokvikas, Gujarat
Saket House, 1, Panchsheel Society, Usmanpura, Ahmedabad 380013, Gujarat; Tel: 91-79-7551931; teamleader@lokvikas.org; http://lokvikas.org/Case%20Studies/water.htm
A community-based volunteer organisation working towards conservation of groundwater resources in Gujarat and other environmental issues
Society for Natural Resource Management and Community Development, Ghaziabad
C-30, Divine Park View Apartment, Abhaykhand-III, Indirapuram, Ghaziabad; 91-120-4160161; snrmcd@gmail.com;
NGO working on issues of soil and water conservation and forestry, has done extensive research on issues of community based groundwater recharge across the country
Household Energy Network, United Kingdom
PO Box 900, London, Bromley, BR1 9FF, United Kingdom; grant@hedon.org; http://www.hedon.info/Category:India
Has been working to provide water security in the Thar region of Rajasthan, including management of groundwater resources in the area by communities
The Sathya Sai Foundation, United States
3491 Clover Oak Drive, San Jose, CA 95148, USA;
http://www.thesaifoundation.org/saiJoomlaProd/
Has worked on soil and groundwater conservation programme as well as tank repair/rehabilitation in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh
Ashok Ghosh, A.N.College, Patna
The Department of Environment and Water Management, A.N.College, Patna is working on different issues related to ground water in Bihar since 1996. Please see the attached file (file name: res-05011301.pdf) for the details required by you.
Sacchidananda Mukherjee, National Institute of Public Finance and Policy, New Delhi
Please find the details of an article published in 2010 that addresses some of the issues that you have highlighted with reference to urban water supply.
Journal: Water Resources Management
Volume and Issue: August 2010, Volume 24, Issue 10, pp 2035-2055
Title: Sustaining Urban Water Supplies in India: Increasing Role of Large Reservoirs
Authors: Sacchidananda Mukherjee, Zankhana Shah and M. Dinesh Kumar
Abstract:
Urban water demand is rapidly growing in India due to high growth in urban population and rapid industrialization. Meeting this demand is a big challenge for the urban planners in India. Incidentally, the large urban areas are experiencing faster growth in population, and most of them are in arid and semi arid regions, which are naturally water-scarce. As a result, water supplies from local water resources including aquifers are falling far short of the high and concentrated demands in most urban areas. Under such situations, these large cities have to rely on distant large reservoirs. The analysis of 302 urban centers shows that cities with larger population size have much higher level of dependence on surface water sources. Also, greater the share of surface water in the city water supplies, higher was the level of per capita water supply. Multiple regression models are estimated for Class I cities and Class II towns in India. The results show that Population Elasticity of Water Supply (PEWS) change with time and space—for Class I cities it was 1.127 in 1988, whereas that with respect to 1999 population is 1.289. It also shows that Class I cities have better water supply (PEWS is 1.127 in 1988 and 1.289 in 1999) than Class II towns (PEWS is 0.396 in 1988 and 0.675 in 1999). Given the structure and pattern of urban population growth, economic conditions and water demands, large reservoirs will have a much bigger role in meeting urban water supply needs.
The article is downloadable free of cost from the following link: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11269-009-9537-8
R. Jagadiswara Rao, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati
As a teacher, researcher, extension worker and consultant since 1965, I have been actively engaged in the sustainable development of water and land resources, including groundwater in the urban context. Thanks to my inputs particularly in http://www.indiawaterportal.org/, I receive quite a good number of queries to offer solutions through emails on urban groundwater supply and quality problems. In a few cases, I had even the opportunity to visit the problem areas to provide better answers to the queries. The high population growth of India with no programme to check it and the miserable quality of life particularly in rural India, the urban areas are faced with still higher population growth through mass-migration from rural areas and the consequent stress on land. This has naturally led to the encroachment of public areas such as lakes. As the government agencies in-charge of urban water supply are unable to meet the people's water needs through piped water and public standpipes, the only alternative left to the urban dwellers, who are hard-pressed for time even to meet their day-to-day needs, is to develop groundwater on their own with the help of the available groundwater consultants, drilling agencies, water analysis labs, and pump dealers and mechanics. As per law, the new builders of houses have to also incorporate rainwater harvesting systems in their building plans. The high temporal and spatial variation both along lateral and vertical directions and inadequate knowledge of groundwater of most stakeholders including experts, thousands of crores of rupees are spent from all over the country with or without useful outcome. If any effort is made to compile and study the enormous database emanated from such high expenditure, there can be good enhancement of our knowledge on urban groundwater. It would be worthwhile for Argyam to take some initiative in this direction by compiling this invaluable data particularly from Bangalore in high resolution 3-D satellite images available in the Google Earth Public Domain.
Satya Prakash Mehra, Rajputana Society of Natural History, Udaipur
Individually, I (Dr Satya Prakash Mehra) and Dr. Sarita Mehra are involved in the issues related with urban waters (including ground waters) in Rajasthan (southern and north-eastern parts). Whereas our organization - Rajputana Society of Natural History (RSNH) - is engaged in water related projects in north-eastern parts but focused on the rural sector.
Our details:
Dr. (Mr.) Satya Prakash Mehra & Dr. (Mrs.) Sarita Mehra
Rajputana Society of Natural History
HO - Kesar Bhawan, 16/747, P.No.90, B/d Saraswati Hosp., Ganeshnagar, Pahada, Udaipur 313001 Rajasthan, India
BO - Raj Mansion, B - 167, Jawahar Nagar, Bharatpur 321001 Rajasthan, India
Emails: drspmehra@yahoo.com & greenmunia@yahoo.co.in
P.S.Navaraj, Yadava College, Madurai
I would like to inform that I am working on the groundwater status in Madurai, Tamil Nadu. I am concentrating on creating a database on the ground water status in Madurai District, also am keen to use the latest technology to purify the ground water. For e.g. use of Nanomaterials and effective microbes in ground water purification. In Sep 2011, I organised the Fourth International Ground water conference with a special reference to hard rock terrain in our college. I am actively involved in the World Water Forum (3,4,5 and 6) and a governing body member in WES-NET besides the member in various professional global water bodies.
My details:
Name : Dr. P.S.Navaraj
Designation: Associate Professor in Zoology, Dean ( Academic affairs)
College: Yadava College, Madurai
Tel: 9442648168
Email- navaraj678@sify.com
Rahul Banerjee, Dhas Gramin Vikas Kendra, Indore
The major problem in the urban context from the point of view of groundwater is its contamination due to release of untreated sewage into the ground and its exhaustion due to excessive withdrawal. A very good solution to this problem is decentralised treatment and reuse and recharge of both grey and black water so as to both do away with the problem of untreated sewage and also increase the availability of groundwater. Our organisation Dhas Gramin Vikas Kendra has been working in this field and has developed a very low cost and effective model. The technical specifications of this model can be viewed here - http://www.scribd.com/doc/118772165/DGVK-Water-Management, and a news article on this model published in the Times of India, Indore can be viewed here - http://www.scribd.com/doc/119188507/DGVK-ToI-Water-Article. A video on this model can also be viewed here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51cv_zO2brk
My details are below:
Rahul Banerjee
74, Krishnodayanagar, Khandwanaka
Indore - 452001
cell no - +91-94259-43023
webpage: http://www.rahulbanerjee.notlong.com
blog: http://www.anar-kali.blogspot.com
V G Reddy, Rural Reconstruction & Development Society, Nellore
The Rural Reconstruction & Development Society is working on the issues of urban slum sanitation and migration. Our details are as follows:
V. GANGI REDDY
Project Director
Rural Reconstruction & Development Society
Maruthinagar,
Nellaturu (V) & (P),
Gudur Mandal - 524 103
S.P.S.R.Nellore District
Andhra Pradesh
South India
email: rrds111@gmail.com, rrds111@yahoo.com
Website: www.rrds.org
Ph: +91-8624-222589, Fax: +91-8624-253133
Mobile: +91-94402 73310
Yogesh Jadeja, Arid Communities and Technologies, Bhuj Kachchh
We are working at Bhuj-Kachchh in Gujarat. Our objective is to demonstrate Aquifer management in Urban set up and for that we are working by adopting urban watershed approach. we have created data base on geohydrological characteristics of the area including thematic mapping e.g. geology, geomorphology, watershed, landuse, and also we are preparing groundwater level mapping to understand recharge and discharge volume of groundwater in aquifer. Based on the understanding we are also holding mass scale awareness program with different levels of stake holders. in addition to this we work closely with primary schools especially municipal schools. We have also formulated citizen's committee to implement different activities of watershed management including awareness, advocacy etc.
In our team there are many persons working on urban groundwater management the list is as below:
Dr. Yogesh Jadeja (Geo-Hydrologist)
Ms. Sezina Bhimani (Geo-Hydrologist)
Mr. Jayanti Gorasiya (Engineer)
Ms. Manisha Jadeja (Lawyer)
Mr. Brijen Thaker (Agriculturists)
Mr. Mulji Siju (Para Hydrogeologist)
Mr. Jtu Jadeja (Para Hydrogeologist)
Mr. Tarunkant Chhaya (Convener of Citizen's committee)
Mr. M. H. Pit (Coordinator Citizen's Committee)
Contact: act.pgwm@gmail.com, yogeshjadeja@gmail.com +91 9979850931
Mail Address: 26, Banker's Colony, Near Jubilee Ground, Bhuj-Kachchh 02832 651531
Mahesh Nathan, World Vision India, Kolkata
Please find for your kind perusal the profile of our organization. World vision India profile
• 139 ADPs (Area Development Programmes)
• 73 projects
• 163 districts in 25 States, 1 Union Territory
• 2.4 million children in 5300 rural/urban communities
WASH is an important component of our approach and 31 ADPs are located in urban locations and ground water contamination and access is an important factor in urban settings.
We have looked at various options like R.O, rain water harvesting to address some of the issues we face. Hope this would help for a start. Our details are provided below
Mahesh Nathan (Mobile +919831147934) Advisor WASH | World Vision India | Based:PMO KOLKATA | Mail: #64, Raja Basanta Roy Rd, 2nd Floor, Southern Avenue/Rashbehari Jn, (Opp. Southern Avenue Allahabad Bank Building/Metro Stn: Kalighat), Kolkata-29, WB, INDIA
Tel/Fax: 033.2419.7245/6/7/8 (Ext.15)| mahesh_nathan@wvi.org | www.worldvision.in
World Vision is a Christian International humanitarian organization working to create lasting change in the lives of children, families and communities living in poverty and injustice. We serve all people regardless of religion, caste, race, ethnicity or gender.
Shubha, Biome Environmental Solutions, Bangalore
I am Shubha and am writing for the work on urban ground water that our team has been doing (primarily in and around Bangalore) for the last several years
About us: Biome Environmental Solutions :
Biome is an initiative aimed to facilitate and foster ecological architecture, rainwater harvesting and other environmentally and socially responsible practices in land-use and water sourcing, supply, usage, treatment and management. Its range of activities includes practice, education, research, and consultancy and implementation facilitation. Biome is an offshoot of Rainwater Club, an informal group of water activists and works with various kinds of institutions – the government, the non-profit sector, educational institutions, private sector and individuals.
The Rainwater Club was founded by Mr S.Vishwanath and has been recognised as a centre of domain expertise in the water sector and has been invited on occasions by different agencies of the government to advice on policy matters. The BWSSB (Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board) lists the Rainwater Club as a reference for facilitation of Rainwater Harvesting implementation. More information is available on www.rainwaterclub.org or on www.biome-solutions.com
Projects
Some of the major ground water related work (primarily to do with ground water recharge and assessment) that we have done are in Bangalore. Further details are available with us and can be shared on a need basis. However there is a fair bit of documented understanding in the case of projects listed below. Most of the projects listed below have dug a large number of recharge wells (>30) There is also an attempt/desire to systematically record our knowledge on ground water in Bangalore - related to the numerous recharge wells that we have dug all around the city
1. Ferns Paradise : http://www.biometrust.blogspot.in/2012/09/on-chai-with-lakshmi.html
2. Rainbow Drive: http://www.indiawaterportal.org/node/10218
3. RV College Mysore Road: https://picasaweb.google.com/111781758596840598341/RVCERWHImplementation
4. Corporate off Mysore Road: (Need to check with the corporate before sharing details)
5. Recharge Wells along the METRO tracks: http://www.slideshare.net/biomeshubha/rwh-for-bangalore-metro
6. Ground water study around the Sarjapura Road Area: (Need to check with the corporate before sharing details)
7. Corporate off Sarjapura town (> 40 Recharge Wells of 16KL capacity each) (Need to check with the corporate before sharing details)
The overall attempt has been to understand Bangalore aquifers and the relationships between the shallow and deeper aquifers.
Anil Lalwani, Well & Water Works, Pune
This is to inform you that we at Well & Water Works, have been working on groundwater issues in urban India and our members have been working in urban areas since 1985, and have been catering to sourcing of groundwater, management of Groundwater ( installation and maintenance of Pumping systems) and also designing and implementation of Rainwater Harvesting systems
Our Main area of operation is Pune and its surroundings (100-150 km). We have also worked in Mumbai, Alibaug, Khed , kolhapur, Aurangabad, Ahmednagar Nasik etc. areas. Over the years we have perfected the methodology for properly developing and managing the GW resources especially the deeper aquifers through borewells on a sustainable basis.
Kalyan Paul, Pan Himalayan Grassroots Development Foundation, Ranikhet
We have been involved with restoration of river basin hydrology for two decades in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. Though ecosystems down at Bangalore would differ vastly from those up in the Indian Himalayan Region, in our opinion, there is one thumb rule which may be applicable anywhere.
This is to do with the intricate relationship between vegetal cover and hydrology. Some years ago, we had walked the Nandi Hills Conservation Region and saw the plight of the ecosystem - ravaged beyond imagination with large scale plantation of exotic species like eucalyptus trees and also massive plots converted to farming vegetables with the application of dangerous pesticides. It is the damage to this critical catchment area which is the primary cause of ruining the availability of water downstream in Bangalore city.
Whatever we may attempt in terms of hydrological renewal, planting and protecting several native species of trees and shrubs would seem to be essential. We hope you and your team would look at Forests as an integral part of sustainable Water Resources.
Our details are as follows:
Pan Himalayan Grassroots Development Foundation,
Ranikhet
Phones: +91 5966 221516, 240430
Mobiles: +91 94 120 93286, 98 111 77546
Faiyaz Basha, Chand Minority Welfare Association, Kurnool
Chand Minority Welfare Association is engaged in water related projects in north-eastern parts of Andhra Pradesh but focused on the rural sector.
Our details:
Faiyaz Basha
Secretary, Chand Minority Welfare Association
H.No.41-419A
Kotha Peta
Kurnool-518001(A.P)
Mobile No.09441612957
cmwa_association@yahoo.com, faiz_knl@yahoo.com
Ramakrishna Nallathiga, National Institute of Construction, Pune
We have done some work on the valuation of ground water mining in Delhi. The following is an abstract of it, which is expected to be published in a journal soon.
Economic valuation of Natural resource Damages: An application to ground water mining in NCT-Delhi
Mr. Ramakrishna Nallathiga
Associate Professor
National Institute of Construction
Management and Research
25/1, Balewadi, Pune 411 045
Tel: 020 6685 9146 Fax: 020 27291057
e-mail: ramanallathiga@yahoo.co.uk
Ms. K. Sri Bala Kameswari
Scientist, Department of Environmental Technology
Central Leather Research Institute
Adyar, Chennai 600 020
Tel: 044 24916351 Fax: 044 24916351
E-mail: sribala_k@yahoo.com
Dr. P. Ram Babu
Associate Director, Sustainability Business Solutions
Price Waterhouse Coopers Ltd
9th Floor, Trade Wing C
Kamala Mills Compound
Lower Parel, Mumbai 400 013
Ph.: 91 22 5661 9461 (Direct)
Fax: 91 22 2495 0329 e-mail: ram.babu@in.pwc.com
Abstract
Natural resources like air, water (including ground water), land and vegetation are valuable resources that are often not valued in market. Economic valuation aids exploration of the value of services provided by these resources, or to estimate damages made to them. A study was carried out in NCT-Delhi to apply economic valuation framework for estimating the costs of mining of ground water i.e., excessive drawal beyond sustainable yield (or, recharge) of ground water, which resulted in a decline in its quality and quantity. This paper presents results from an application of economic valuation framework to the mining of ground water in NCT-Delhi. In the study approach, after examining alternate water supply options, the low cost option was picked with the help of experts. The costs of such water supply provision were estimated using engineering methods; the costs of degradation of ground water quality due to its mining were also valued using remediation costs of mined water using an appropriate treatment technology. These estimates of economic values based on engineering methods provide a basis for rational action by the decision and policy makers through appropriate legal, technical and institutional measures.
Key Words: Natural resource damages, Ground water mining, Economic valuation, Replacement costs and Alternate costs.
Devendra Singh Dhapola, Urban Infrastructure Expert, New Delhi
I am Devendra Singh Dhapola working as Urban Infrastructure Expert in JNNURM, Technical Cell, Ministry of Urban Development, GoI and involved in urban water related projects in India. My details are as under:
DS Dhapola
Urban Infrastructure Expert
JNNURM Technical Cell,
Nirman Bhawan
MoUD, GoI,
New Delhi
Vidya Sagar Oruganti, REEDS, Yellamanchili
REEDS is working on water systems both in villages and urban municipalities in Andhra Pradesh. Our details are as under:
Vidya Sagar Oruganti,
REEDS,
27-99, Gandhinagar,
Yellamanchili – 531055,
Dt. Visakhapatnam,
Andhra Pradesh.
Mobile: 9849946797
Devinder Khetarpal, Quality Analyst & Labs P. Ltd, New Delhi*
Key Areas:
1) Analyzed and reported more than 30,000 water samples in last few years.
2) Involved in numerous Water & Waste Water Audits.
3) Expert Consultants on choosing appropriate treatment methodologies.
4) Treatability Studies for complex waste water problems.
5) Closely work with Water Treatment companies, Industry & NGO`s to provide safe drinking water to the masses.
Quality Analyst & Labs P. Ltd.
270, Sector 37,
Udyog Vihar-6,
Gurgaon
Tels: +91 9810098791, 9312430446
*Offline Contribution
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