A SEA OF SUPPORT FOR WATER
RCB’S JAL JEEVAN HAS INAUGURATED 12 PROJECTS IN VIDARBHA REGION OF MAHARASHTRA
The Rotary Club of Bombay’s Water Resources Committee inaugurated the installation of seven RO plants, one UV plant and distributed a total of 879 gravity-based filters in four villages in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra.
These were done as a part of the Jal Jeevan Initiative where Safe Drinking Water is provided to villages which will benefit from them with better health and which, in turn, improves their economic condition. Two teams from the Club comprising PP Rtn. Sandip Agarwalla, Rtn. Vineet Suchanti, Rtn. Bimal Mehta and Rtn. Abhishek Saraf, alongwith a representative from partner Eureka Forbes travelled to each of the villages from April 10th to 12th, 2019, to ensure that the plants are installed and will benefit over 10,800 adults and children in surrounding villages.
There are RO Plants in seven villages – Mandwa, Shivani (Yavatmal), Zarandi (Akola), Shivangaon, Fattepur, Pimpalgaon Behani (Amravati), Khadka (Wardha); a UV Plant at one village – Wai (Wardha) and Gravity Filters at four villages – Karanji, Tapona (Yavatmal), Wadgaon Patan, Gorala (Amravati)
This marks the completion of the first phase of the project encompassing a total of 42 villages which the Rotary Club of Bombay proposed to complete. The project envisaged a need assessment, testing of water at each of the villages, evaluation of the right equipment that will sustain in each location and finally making sure that the plants are installed in appropriate sheds and training is provided to the villagers to operate and maintain the plants on an ongoing basis.
In villages where the RO plant could not be installed due to infrastructure or non-availability of consistent source of electricity or raw water, gravitybased filters have been given to every household.
A comprehensive maintenance for a period of three years has also been provided for each of the plants. The projects were done under a cooperation agreement and participation with Eureka Forbes along with ground level assistance from NGO AVGSS.
The second phase covering 16 villages is under implementation and is proposed to be completed in June 2019.
| Existing Location | New Location | Reason for Shifting to New Location |
| Sathenagar | The schools at Manor, Palghar are: 1. V Narayan Chapekar Prarthamik Vidya Mandir (450 children plus 10 staff members) 2. Lala Bahadur Shastri High School Va Satya Bhama Tanishtha Mahavidyala (2500 children plus 50 staff members) 3. General Education Society YN Chapekar English Medium School (400 children plus 15 staff members) Total number of beneficiaries: 3400 daily |
Nuisance created by local elements. Water pipeline by Municipal Corporation. NGO stopped cooperating due to political pressure. |
| Adarshnagar | Dongripada, Dahanu, Maharashtra 930 students and 50 faculty members daily. Total number of beneficiaries: 980 daily |
Issues created by local bodies prevented a plant from being set up. In the meantime, the Municipal Corporation laid a pipeline to provide water. Hence, the Self-Help Group backed out. |
We propose to inaugurate both these facilities next month i.e. June 2019
CLEAN DRINKING WATER FOR JALNA AREA
The Water Resources Committee initiated a project to provide clean drinking water and water stewardship to villages in the Jalna area of interior Maharashtra. This is to be executed in a phase-wise manner in partnership with Eureka Forbes, Watershed Organisation Trust (WOTR, a not-for-profit NGO recognised widely as a premiere institution in the field of Watershed Development), the Gram Panchayat and the Rotary Club of Jalna.
Activities proposed are to provide the community with safe drinking water, repair and construct wells, construct storage tanks, advocacy for water management and improving general cleanliness of the village. Ten villages were identified and their water quality was tested by Eureka Forbes to determine the type of purification treatment required.
A field visit was made by RCB President Vijay Jatia, PP Rtn. Sandip Agarwalla and Rtn. Abhinav Aggarwal along with Rotaractors from the Rotaract Club of HR. Representatives of Eureka Forbes and WOTR joined the trip. RCB was graciously hosted by its donor Raju Barwale and the Rotary Club of Jalna.
In keeping with RCB’s motto to initiate fully-funded projects only, it was decided to initiate work on 3/4 villages as Phase I with a funding commitment of Rs. 25 lakh to be followed up with additional 3/4 villages as Phase II with commitment of Rs. 25 lakh. A donor has been identified who has committed Rs. 50 lakh. Phase 1 of the project is expected to be completed by June 2019.
PLANTS IN ADARSHNAGAR & SATHENAGAR RELOCATED
Despite RCB’s best efforts, we have concluded that rather than have the plant in Sathenagar grossly underutilised, it would better if it was shifted. This situation has arisen due to new water pipelines that have been laid by the Municipal Corporation. As regards the Adarshnagar plant, we have run into issues with the selfhelp group backing out due to local elements as well as water now being made available in that area, again, by the Municipal Corporation. Since both these projects were under a Global Grant, we have received the formal approval from Rotary International to relocate the plants to Dongripada and Manor Schools. We propose to inaugurate both these facilities next month i.e. June 2019
JAL JEEVAN AT YUSUF MEHERALLY VIDYALAYA, TARDEO, MUMBAI
A Jal Jeevan Safe Drinking Water Facility at the Yusuf Meherally Vidyalaya at Tardeo, Mumbai on March 25th, 2019. YMV is a co-educational Marathi medium school established in 1963 for children from lower income groups. More than 480 students and 50 faculty members are expected to benefit from this facility on a daily basis – total 530 beneficiaries daily. The inauguration was done by Moti Saraf (father of Rtn. Abhishek Saraf) and RCB President Vijay Jatia. In attendance were Rtn. Vineet Suchanti, PP Rtn. Sandip Agarwalla, PP Rtn. Paul George, Rtn. Abhishek Saraf , Ashok Chhabria. Mrs Vijaya Chauhan (Secretary of Yusuf Meherally Education Society) and Mr Chaudhary (school Principal).
WATER FOR MALABAR HILL POST OFFICE, MUMBAI
A UV-based safe drinking water plant was installed at the Malabar Hill Post Office. Supplied by Eureka Forbes, the equipment is inclusive of warranty for a year and maintenance for two years. The installation will benefit over a hundred postal employees, all BEST staff from a depot across the road as well as visitors (around 155 beneficiaries daily) to the Hanging Gardens. The plant was inaugurated by President Vijay Jatia on March 11th, 2019.
ASHAGAD & TALWADA
With a view to ensuring that the plants benefit urban slum communities efficiently, it was decided to: * Move the Rathodi water plant to Talwada to provide safe drinking water to the Boys’ and Girls’ hostels nearby and reach out to almost a 1550 beneficiaries daily. * Move the Ambujwadi plant to Sister Catherine of Jeevandhara Kanya Ashram Shala School at Ashagad, benefitting 550 students and hundred faculty. * Both were installed under Global Grants and inaugurated on January 26th, 2019.
PURIFICATION SYSTEM FOR ANJUMAN I-ISLAM SCHOOL
President Vijay Jatia inaugurated a 1000 litre UV Water Purification System at the Anjuman I-Islam Kurla High School on July 25th, 2018. The system will benefit over 8500 students and 300 faculty members. The project cost Rs. 170,000 along with a contribution from Tandarust Bharat Foundation (Eureka Forbes). Jal Jeevan also provided water to Rafiq Nagar, Rathodi and Ambujwadi in Malwani, JJ Hospitals Hostel, 10 schools in Malwani, Byculla Police Head quarters and Bhavishya Yaan Schools.
THE TOTAL BENEFICIARIES FROM THE JAL JEEVAN PROJECTS ARE 97,500 PERSONS.