Introduction to KashmirForum.org Blog

I launched the website and the Blog after having spoken to government officials, political analysts and security experts specializing in South Asian affairs from three continents. The feedback was uniformly consistent. The bottom line is that when Kashmiris are suffering and the world has its own set of priorities, we need to find ways to help each other. We must be realistic, go beyond polemics and demagoguery, and propose innovative ideas that will bring peace, justice and prosperity in all of Jammu and Kashmir.

The author had two reasons to create this blog. First, it was to address the question that was being asked repeatedly, especially, by journalists and other observers in the U.S., U.K., and Canada, inquiring whether the Kashmiri society was concerned about social, cultural and environmental challenges in the valley given that only political upheaval and violence were reported or highlighted by media.

Second, the author has covered the entire spectrum of societal issues and challenges facing Kashmiri people over an 8-year period with the exception of politics given that politics gets all the exposure at the expense of REAL CHALLENGES that will likely result in irreversible degradation in the quality of life and the standard of living for future generations of Kashmiris to come.

The author stopped adding additional material to the Blog once it was felt that most, if not all, concerns, challenges and issues facing the Kashmiri society are cataloged in the Blog. There are over 1900 entries in the Blog and most commentaries include short biographical sketches of authors to bring readers close to the essence of Kashmir. Unfortunately, the 8-year assessment also indicates that neither Kashmiri civil society, nor intellectuals or political leadership have any inclination or enthusiasm in pursuing issues that do not coincide with their vested political agendas. What it means for the future of Kashmiri children and their children is unfathomable. But the evidence is all laid out.

This Blog is a reality check on Kashmir. It is a historical record of how Kashmir lost its way.

Vijay Sazawal, Ph.D.
www.kashmirforum.org

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Interesting Numbers Related to Water Supply in Srinagar

Note that capacity of a water processing facility is expressed in units millions of gallons per day (MGD). A pump having a capacity of 1 MGD is capable of moving 1 million gallons of water during 24 hours (one day)

Srinagar requires 62 MGD water against availability of 48.16 MGD

Srinagar: Taking serious note of slow pace of execution of distribution system of Doodganga and Rangil Phase-II, Water Treatment Plants (WTP) by Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA), Minister of State for U&D, PHE and Tourism, Nasir Aslam Wani has fixed a deadline for ERA to complete the delivery system of Doodganga and Rangil Phase-II WTP up to August 19 and October 2, 2009 respectively.

The Minister gave these instructions to ERA authority during his extensive tour to Rangil Phase-II and Doodganga Water Treatment Plants today.

Aslam said that 10 MGD of Rangil phase-II and 2.25 MGD of Doodganga WTP are ready for commission, but due to the delay in the completion of distribution system the same could not be inaugurated. He directed the ERA authorities to speed up the execution work on war footing and stressed upon the concerned to complete the execution of work on due date or be ready to face consequences.

He stressed upon ERA authorities for timely completion of all under execution projects in general and Doodganga and Rangil phase-II in particular so that the people of Srinagar city could be benefited by these mega projects at the earliest.

He instructed Chief Engineer, Public Health Engineering, Irrigation and Flood Control (PHE), to operate tanker water supply services round the clock to those areas which are facing shortage of potable drinking water.

The Chief Engineer informed the Minister that the present requirement of the city is 62 MGD against availability of 48.16 MGD.

"The remaining deficit would be covered soon after the commissioning of Rangil phase-II and 2.25 Doodganga Water Treatment Plants," he said. "To cater to the present demands of Greater Srinagar, the major works under taken for execution include revamping of age old WTPs, improvements in the delivery of Nishat and Doodganga assistance by ERA and execution of 10 MGD Water Treatment Plants each at Tangar and Sukhmag under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM)."

He said the major works to be taken to cater to the future demands of Greater Srinagar included construction of tunnel branch from main tunnel for new Ganderbal power project as a joint venture with Power Development Corporation (PDC) , raw water conductor from proposal tunnel from Rangil to Nishat, revamping of existing distribution system, upgradation of the source of Doodganga system, additional 2 MGD WTP in water supply zone 3rd, 6MGD WTP at Tangar zone 5th and 3.5 MGD WTP at Sukhnar zone. Beside, 10 MGD WTP at Harvan, 20 MGD WTP at Rangil and 10 MGD WTP at Alusten, he said.

(Kashmir Times)

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