Source South Asia 2008, issue 10

Published - 29 Oct 08

South Asia - General

South Asia: new ADB regional technical assistance project on urban water management

The Asian Development Bank is launching a new project worth US$ 5 million to establish a sustainable capacity building and training program on water and sanitation management and governance.

South Asia: millions of children take part in Global Handwashing Day

Millions of children and adults across South Asia took part in Global Handwashing Day on 15 October. The aim of the initiative was to show how washing the hands with soap can effectively prevent disease.

Editorial, Daily Star, Bangladesh

It amuses us a great deal to see the improvisation - showing, in one case, the use of 122 labourers in fixing a single toilet pan, and in another, a similar number of labourers in another office of the BTCL Khulna division, employed for cleaning shrubs and sewerage line.

Aravind Adiga, writer/journalist, winner 2008 Man Booker Prize

Nowadays the poor [in India] may have access to mobile phones, of more fundamental importance to them is that it is now more difficult to get access to drinking water than ten years ago.

Afghanistan: medical waste poses a serious health risk

Medical waste on open rubbish dumps is causing a serious health hazard in Kabul and other major cities. Kabul Municipality says it does not have the expertise to separate and dispose of the waste safely.

Afghanistan: UN helps authorities tackle diarrhoea outbreak

UN agencies are helping the authorities in Afghanistan to respond to an outbreak of diarrhoea, which has already cost 22 lives. WHO says the situation is largely under control.

Bangladesh: new economical method of testing for toxins in drinking water

After many years of studying toxins in drinking water in Bangladesh, a group of volunteer researchers has come up with a cost-effective strategy to ensure that the water is safe to drink.

Bangladesh: rainwater harvesting may ease water crisis in Dhaka

With groundwater supplies drying up, harvesting rainwater could help ease the water crisis in the Bangladeshi capital. Rainwater could potentially supply about 15% of the city's water requirements.

Bhutan, Mongar: rainwater harvesting can help meet rapidly-rising demand for drinking water

As the town of Mongar in Bhutan grows rapidly, its already limited water supply capacity will be unable to meet demand. Rainwater harvesting offers a cheap and sustainable solution.

India, Karnataka: state government committed to providing potable water within five years

The government of the Indian state of Karnataka has announced its commitment to providing state-wide potable water within five years. The water will come from surface-level sources.

India, Tamil Nadu: humans may no longer be used to clear blocked sewers

The Madras High Court has passed a ruling that human beings may no longer be used to clear blocked sewers. The authorities will now have to use mechanical devices.

India, West Bengal: NCC cadets start sanitation campaign to increase awareness

Members of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) in West Bengal have started a campaign to raise awareness of good sanitation practices in remote areas. They also played an active part in Global Handwashing Day.

India, Manipur: state government adopts Act to stop manual scavenging

The Manipur state government has adopted an Act to prohibit the employment of manual scavengers and the construction of dry latrines. The Act makes it illegal to use human scavengers to clear excrement.

Nepal: promotion of handwashing stepped up

Activities to promote handwashing in Nepal have been stepped up in the week of Global Handwashing Day. Authorities and NGOs took the opportunity to underline the importance of handwashing to health and hygiene.

Nepal: total sanitation target a formidable challenge

Nepal needs to step up its efforts if it is to reach the target of sanitation for all by 2017. Problems include non-sustainable sanitation facilities and a lack of coordination between the authorities and agencies involved.

Nepal: civil society organisations prepare for SACOSAN

Representatives of Nepalese civil society organisations came together in Narayangadh on 23 September 2008 to prepare for the third South Asian Conference on Sanitation (SACOSAN) to be held in New Delhi in November.

Pakistan: Ministry of Environment confident of achieving targets for International Year of Sanitation

The Pakistani Ministry of Environment is confident that it will achieve the targets set for the 2008 International Year of Sanitation. With most prevailing diseases being caused by poor hygiene and sanitation practices, reaching the government's targets is crucial.

Pakistan, NWFP: attacks cause outbreak of gastroenteritis

Thousands of people are suffering from gastroenteritis in Swat Valley after militants blew up an electricity sub-station. The attack disrupted power to water supplies, forcing people to use dirty water.

Sri Lanka: task force calls for increased awareness on sanitation

The Sanitation Task Force in Sri Lanka has called on politicians and teachers to increase awareness of sanitation in households and communities and emphasize its importance in maintaining public health.

Sri Lanka, Ampara district: 100,000 people to get piped water supply

A large-scale project being implemented by the Red Cross Red Crescent will bring piped water to nearly 100,000 people in the coastal areas of Ampara district, Sri Lanka.

Nepal: Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar new Minister for Physical Planning and Works

On 22 August 2008, Nepalese Prime Minister Kamal Dahal appointed eight new ministers to his cabinet. Among them was Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar, who is the new Minister for Physical Planning and Works.

India Water Portal wins Manthan Award

The India Water Portal has won a Manthan Award for ICT and Digital Content in Development, in the E-Science and Environment category.

James Wicken moves to WaterAid Australia

James Wicken has moved from his position as South Asia Regional Advocacy and Policy Advisor with WaterAid UK to take up a new position as Head of Policy and Advocacy with WaterAid Australia.

Water Sanitation and Hygiene Coordinator, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Action Contre la Faim (ACF) is looking for a Water Sanitation and Hygiene Coordinator to organise and supervise implementation of its technical strategy in water sanitation and hygiene.

Apply before Thursday 29 January 2009

Domestic Wastewater Treatment and Reuse for Engineers, Architects, Builders

New Delhi, India, 15-19 December 2008

This training course, offered by the Centre for Science and Environment in New Delhi, India, explores current wastewater treatment practices and suggests an alternative paradigm suited to the Indian situation.

Urban Rainwater Harvesting

New Delhi, India, 17-21 November 2008

Advanced course for working professionals interested in learning more about the theory, practice and policies of urban water harvesting.

Water utilities: capacity building and institutional strengthening

Putting together a capacity building and institutional strengthening programme can be a daunting task for water utilities. Hubert Jenny, Senior Urban Development Specialist at the Asian Development Bank, has presented some guidelines on how to go about it.

India: planning research grants - multiple-use water services

The John D. Rockefeller 3RD Scholars Program at Winrock International, with support from UNICEF India, is looking for planning grant concepts for a two-year applied research initiative.

Apply before Tuesday 18 November 2008

Support in stressed environments: transportable infrastructures for development and emergency support

The TIDES (Transportable Infrastructures for Development and Emergency Support) project aims to encourage information sharing and develop communities of interest in stressed environments.

Handwashing: the Tippy Tap - simple and safe

The Tippy Tap is a simple and hygienic device for handwashing, which is very easy to set up and use. Researchers in the Netherlands have come up with a more modern design.

Pakistan: Preparation of Larkana Wastewater Management Strategic Action Plan and Priority Investment Programme

The Asian Development Bank is seeking the services of a national engineering consulting firm experienced in urban sewerage and drainage engineering.

Apply before Monday 10 November 2008

India: ADB to provide support for public-private partnerships

The Asian Development Bank is to provide the Indian government with a technical assistance grant worth US$ 2 million to develop public-private partnerships in infrastructure projects.

Compendium of sanitation systems and technologies

This compendium helps identify and evaluate sanitation options in the context of the Household Centered Environmental Sanitation (HCES) planning approach.

Guide to advocacy for integrity in the water sector

This advocacy guide, published by the Water Integrity Network (WIN), offers practical tips for advocacy to curb corruption in the sector. It consists of a series of articles based on the project cycle of an advocacy plan.

UrbWatSan - Nepal

The UrbWatSan - Nepal web site provides news, features and publications on urban water and sanitation in Nepal. There is also a list of watsan agencies in Nepal and a small photo gallery.

Slippage of WASH Services: Causes, Costs and How to Counter

Centre for Economic and Social Studies (CESS), Hyderabad, India, First week of March 2009

The main objectives of the workshop are to quantify the scale and extent of the challenge of “slippage of WASH services” and to increase the understanding of the main causes. Secondly the workshop is about disseminating the results of the research and workshop, and scaling-up of good practices related to the WASH slippage challenge.

HYDRO - 2008: National Conference on Hydraulics & Water Resources

Jaipur, India, 15-16 December 2008

The objective of the conference is to bring together engineers / scientists working in the design, planning, construction, maintenance and research aspects of hydraulic engineering, water resources engineering and environmental engineering. UNICEF will present awards to the best two papers on the theme “Sanitation and Health”.

National Conference on Integrated Water and Wastewater Management

Kolkata, India, 20-22 November 2008

Conference themes include: physicochemical aspects of water, watershed development, impact of climate change on water resources, wetland conservation, water crisis and ecologically balanced wastewater management.