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WATER POLLUTION |
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WATER POLLUTION |
Alarming Trends NOT only the ground water, surface water IN KATHMANDU is also in grave danger says a recent study By a correspondent The discharge of untreated wastewater and the disposal of solid waste into rivers and other bodies of water are common practices in Kathmandu valley. All these domestic and industrial refuse like liquid or solid form lead to the accumulation of chemical, organic, bacterial and nutrient components, which determine tolerance of water quality. It is not only surface water but also invisible ground water source that is in severe danger, says a latest scientific study. Growing population and increase of polluted surface water make ground water the main source for domestic and other water requirements. Haphazard drilling of deep tube wells by big hotels, large-scale industrial and commercial establishments and drilling of small-diameter shallow tube wells by households, with no organization being responsible for monitoring and controlling usage to ensure adequate recharge, have produced considerable stress on the finite ground water potential of the valley. Therefore ground water of Kathmandu valley is showing increasing signs of over-extraction. Falling water levels, reduced supplies and caving have been reported.
During his research entitled "Water Quality Assessment and Wastewater Treatment Requirements in Urban Rivers of Kathmandu valley," Dr. Suman K. Shakya, who was recently awarded a Ph. D. degree from the University of Agricultural Sciences, Vienna, Austria, probed different locations of the Bagmati river system from the source to the city area of Kathmandu valley. According to his findings, river water from the source to 5.2 km in Bishnumati river and 8.4 km in Bagmati river, is within the limit of aquatic habitat. From those points downstream, pollution gradually increases until the water becomes almost like wastewater at city area of Bagmati river. The river water from this region has been found to be unsafe for any use because of hazardous chemicals and bacteria. According to his findings, domestic sewage, industrial effluents and agricultural residues and chemicals are the most significant wastes causing urban rivers pollution in Kathmandu valley. All kinds of pollutants are discharged without pre-treatment directly through the public sewerage system or indirectly through runoff and open drainage into rivers. Dr. Shakya recommends the removal rate of hazardous chemicals, organic matters and bacteriological contamination from 70 percent to more than 90 percent from different locations of non-point and point sources of wastewater discharge into urban rivers of Kathmandu valley. Dr. Shakya's study also suggest the use of appropriate small-scale, low-cost technologies for treatment of urban wastewater discharges and the implementation of conservation measures for the safety of the aquatic environment as well as human health. KHIMTI HYDROPOWER PROJECT King Birendra inaugurates the 62-MW Khimti Hydroelectricity Project By A CORRESPONDENT After long and cold winters of yesteryear, Nepalese consumers can expect some warmth this season as the country's major private sector hydropower project will contribute more than 60 MW of electricity to the national grid. Despite the controversies regarding the high cost of its power, the Khimti Hydroelectricity Project was formally inaugurated on November 27 by King Birendra at Kirne -- on the border between Ramechhap and Dolakha district. But the question is: who will consume the highly expensive electricity? The power tariff of about Rs 7 per unit is beyond the capacity of the common people. The first of the privately built hydroelectricity project, Khimti is the run-of-the-river type hydel project. It has already started generating electricity since last April. The starved national grid of Nepal will now have sufficient electricity. As other private-sector project at Bhotekoshi is also said to be nearing completion, there will be surplus power in the national grid during the coming monsoon season. The construction of the project took four years. Himal Power Limited is responsible for the plant's operation. Built on a BOT model (Build-Operate-Transfer), the project will sell its electricity to Nepal Electricity Authority and would be handed over to the Nepalese government after 50 years. The total investment of the project is said to be around US$ 140 million. |
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