Sanitation

26% of world lacks clean drinking water, 46% basic sanitation: UN

A report released on the eve of the first major UN conference on water in over 45 years says 26 per cent of the world's population doesn't have access to safe drinking water and 46 per cent lacks access to basic sanitation. The UN World Water Development Report 2023, issued Tuesday, painted a stark picture of the huge gap that needs to be filled to meet UN goals to ensure all people have access to clean water and sanitation by 2030. Richard Connor, editor-in-chief of the report, told a news conference that the estimated cost of meeting the goals is between USD 600 billion and USD 1 trillion a year. But equally important, Connor said, is forging partnerships with investors, financiers, governments and climate change communities to ensure that money is invested in ways to sustain the environment and provide potable water to the 2 billion people who don't have it and sanitation to the 3.6 million in need. According to the report, water use has been increasing globally by roughly 1 per

26% of world lacks clean drinking water, 46% sanitation, says UN report

A new report launched Tuesday on the eve of the first major UN conference on water in over 45 years says 26 per cent of the world's population doesn't have access to safe drinking water and 46 per cent lack access to basic sanitation. The UN World Water Development Report 2023 painted a stark picture of the huge gap that needs to be filled to meet UN goals to ensure all people have access to clean water and sanitation by 2030. Richard Connor, editor-in-chief of the report, told a news conference that the estimated cost of meeting the goals is somewhere between USD 600 billion and USD 1 trillion a year. But equally important, Connor said, is forging partnerships with investors, financiers, governments and climate change communities to ensure that money is invested in ways to sustain the environment and provide potable water to the 2 billion people who don't have it and sanitation to the 3.6 million in need. According to the report, water use has been increasing globally by roughly 1

Himachal signs MoU with French Agency to improve drinking water, sanitation

Under the project, Rs 612 crore would be provided by AFD, whereas the State Government would provide Rs. 204.85 crore, said the Chief Minister

Over 95% people have access to potable water in rural areas: Govt report

A government survey has revealed that 95 per cent of people in rural areas and 97.2 per cent in cities are having access to improved sources of drinking (potable) water during 2020-2021. According to the report based on the Multiple Indicator Survey (MIS) of the National Sample Survey (NSS) 78th round, about 56.3 per cent of the persons in the rural areas and about 76.3 per cent of the persons in the urban areas used improved source of drinking water located in the household premises, which was sufficiently available throughout the year. The primary objective of the MIS was to collect data for generation of some important national indicators of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The survey was initially planned to be conducted during January-December 2020, but due to Covid-19 pandemic, the data collection was continued up to August 15, 2021 for ensuring completeness of survey operation in terms of its coverage. For the central sample, the survey was spread over 14,266 first stag

All rural households will have tap water in by 2024: Vini Mahajan

Centre supporting states to achieve the target, says secretary in the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti

Ensure adequate sanitation, cleanliness around Shahi Idgah: Delhi minister

Delhi minister Imran Hussain on Tuesday directed officials to ensure adequate sanitation facilities and cleanliness in streets around the Shahi Idgah ahead of an 'Ijtema', a religious congregation here, officials said. The food and civil supplies minister chaired an important meeting on the preparedness for the 'Ijtema' at Shahi Idgah, which is scheduled to be held from February 24-27. In this meeting, the area councillor, along with officers of various government agencies like DDMA, DUSIB, DJB, MCD, the health ministry, fire services, BSES, Delhi Police, and PWD, were also present, his office said in a statement. Hussain directed officials to ensure adequate sanitation facilities and cleanliness on roads and streets around the Idgah. He also directed the MCD to provide adequate manpower for cleaning of the streets and lanes around the Idgah during the event. "During the 'Ijtema' event, a large number of visitors, around 4-5 lakh people, are expected to attend it. For the conveni

Over 180k villages ODF+, govt hoping to double it this year: Official

Over 1.8 lakh villages in the country have achieved Open Defecation Free-Plus (ODF+) status so far and the government will attempt to double the number this year, an official of the Drinking Water and Sanitation department said. Areas working towards sustainability of Open Defecation Free (ODF) status to ensure proper maintenance of toilet facilities are categorised as Swachh Bharat Mission ODF+. SBM Grameen Phase-II was launched in February 2020 with the aim to ensure that all villages in the country can declare themselves as ODF Plus by the end of 2024. "In SBM Grameen Phase-II, we are also working for comprehensive sanitation in our villages, through effective solid and liquid waste management. This includes biodegradable waste management, plastic waste management, greywater management and fecal sludge management, leading to villages becoming ODF+," Vini Mahajan, Secretary, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, told PTI. "We are encouraging generation of both biogas and ..

FinMin releases Rs 4,189 cr as rural local bodies grant to five states

The Finance Ministry on Wednesday said it has released Rs 4,189 crore to five states for providing grants to the rural local bodies. "The Department of Expenditure (has) released an amount of Rs 4,189.58 crore to Karnataka (Rs 628.07 crore), Tripura (Rs 44.10 crore), Uttar Pradesh (Rs 2,239.80 crore), Andhra Pradesh (Rs 569.01 crore) and Gujarat (Rs 708.60 crore) for providing grants to the Rural Local Bodies," an official statement said. This grant is based on the recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission and are released to the states as per the advice of the Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation for making improvements in two services -- sanitation and maintenance of Open-Defecation Free (ODF) status and supply of drinking water, rain water harvesting and water recycling. The states are required to transfer the grants to the local bodies within 10 working days of receipt from the Union Government. Any delay beyond 10 working days requires the state governments to ...

ADB to provide $96.3-mn loan to improve water supply in Himachal Pradesh

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide a loan of USD 96.3 million (about Rs 769 crore) for a project to provide safe drinking water and improve water supply and sanitation services in Himachal Pradesh. An agreement in this regard was signed between the multilateral lending agency and the central government. In a release, the finance ministry said more than 90 per cent of the state's rural population has access to drinking water, but the water supply infrastructure needs revamping for efficient and improved service quality. The ADB project will connect 75,800 households to the service, providing uninterrupted water supply to about 3,70,000 residents across 10 districts. To improve water supply and sanitation services, the project aims to construct 48 groundwater wells, 80 surface water intake facilities, 109 water treatment plants, 117 pumping stations, and 3,000 kms of water distribution pipelines, it said. A pilot fecal sludge management and sanitation programme will also

I-Day: Karnataka CM announces schemes on sanitation, nutrition, farm labour

Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai said his government has decided to launch new schemes on sanitation, nutrition, and for the well-being of farmers, labourers and the soldiers of the state

NGT directs authorities to connect 93 Greater Noida villages with sewage

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice A K Goel said sanitation and proper hygiene in villages is imperative for clean environment and protection of public health.

ADB approves Rs 770 cr loan for safe drinking water project in Himachal

The ADB project will connect 75,800 households to the service, providing uninterrupted water supply to about 370,000 residents across 10 districts.

IIT Madras develops robot to clean septic tanks without human intervention

Named HomoSEP, ten units are planned to be deployed across Tamil Nadu and the researchers are in touch with sanitation workers to identify the locations, officials said.

24 sanitation workers' fatalities in 2021, down from 118 in 2019: Govt

The number of deaths occurring due to hazardous cleaning of sewers and septic tanks has substantially come down in the country, said Union Minister Ramdas Athawale in the Rajya Sabha

NDMC nod for regularisation of sanitation workers engaged from 1998-2003

The standing committee of the north corporation approved a proposal on regularisation of sanitation workers engaged from April 1998 to March 2003, officials said.

Access to fuel, sanitation, power better in 2019-20: NITI Aayog report

Over 40% Indians continue to depend on dung, coal, etc, for cooking fuel; 30% do not have access to proper toilets

eGov Foundation partners with J-PAL S Asia to improve govt service delivery

Under this partnership, eGov will facilitate access to administrative data that can be used by J-PAL affiliated researchers to design and evaluate policy programs

Rs 1.42-trillion tied grant to villages for water, sanitation: 15th FC

Tied grant 60% of total Rs 2.37 trn allocated to rural local bodies

Centre asks state governments to tackle black fungus on a war footing

States have been asked to prepare and implement the infection prevention control programme in hospitals in accordance with the National Guidelines for Infection and Control in Healthcare Facilities

Beyond the sarkari diktat

Book review of Method in the Madness: Insights from My Career as an Insider Outsider Insider