Friday, 02 April 2021 | PNS | Dehradun
The Jal Jeevan Mission (Urban) in its recently released guidelines had suggested cities to conduct water balance plan study to promote circular economy of the water focusing on recycle/reuse of treated sewage, rejuvenation of water bodies and water conservation. In this regard, the Dehradun city water balance plan study which was recently concluded in Dehradun with the support of US Agency for International Development (USAID) by Centre for Urban and Regional Excellence (CURE), was handed over to the Urban Development Directorate. CURE had initiated the City Water Balance Plan (CWBP) study at Dehradun in collaboration with a local consulting agency, ImpactDASH in June 2020 and was the first city to conclude the study out of three cities.
The key findings of the study include satisfactory underground water availability, satisfactory piped water supply especially to the slum areas, intensive groundwater extraction, lack of convergence between all the stakeholder departments for better outcome, paucity of data and prevalence of water borne diseases. The CWBP will facilitate the city administration in subsequent interventions for making the city more water resilient. CURE city manager Swagata Kainthola said that Dehradun city water balance plan will work as a guideline for the rest of cities in Uttarakhand and other northern states on water issues as well.
