Dehradun, June 2
Doing away with the traditional practice of using chlorine for purification of water, the Peyjal Nigam has been successfully using silver ionisation method for the last three years.

The method was made mandatory after restruct- uring of water supply system under the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission Programme.

While authorities here vouch for self-sufficiency till the year 2040, to provide safe and palatable water to the denizens has always
been a challenge.

According to various studies undertaken by independent bodies and NGOs, quality of water has always been suspect in terms of presence of high degree of chlorine.

However, under the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission, silver ions are being used as an important disinfectant for purifying water. The method is better because the residual ions continue to work for 48 hours.

The water purification system consists of a state-of-the-art microprocessor control box and a scientifically designed set of electrodes composed of copper and silver, which are set slightly apart from each other.

Water is passed through a specially built flow-cell chamber that houses the electrodes. “The benefits of silver ionisation are immense albeit the costs are on the higher side. A simple plant could cost as much as Rs 1.5 lakh and upwards,” said RN Verma, managing director, Peyjal Nigam.

Although chlorination has been a popular method for purification, scientists are of the opinion that viable alternatives are already available and they should be used.

Besides, the World Health Organisation has been warning against the carcinogenic properties of chlorine.

A prescribed quantity - between .2mg/lit -.5mg/lit - of chlorine is used for disinfecting water, but the cumbersome process of storage and manual handling is working against the method.

Besides, the staff that is manually handling chlorine has to be trained in its exact use and even monitoring of the plant has be undertaken, as the gas is highly toxic and can cause lung and skin diseases.

On the other hand, silver has been known as an effective bacteria and virus killer for centuries. Silver sulfate is the standard antibacterial treatment for burns and any type of open wounds, and is also used to protect the eyes of newborns.

Household and industrial carbon filters purify water through silver particles and interiors of refrigerators are rendered antibacterial by the presence of silver ions.

“Silver is used as the purifier for drinking water by half of the world’s airlines and in over 1,000 passenger ships. It is also being used in the middle- east. In Dehradun, we began its use three years back when silver electrodes were fitted in seven tubewells. In due course, 33 tubewells will be covered. Use of silver for purification purpose is certainly proving a boon,” added Verma.

When silver ions are released into water, the surface-active ions act as a potent biocide. The disinfection takes place when positively charged silver ions form electrostatic bonds with negatively charged areas on the cell walls of the micro-organism. These electrostatic bonds create stresses that lead to distorted cell wall permeability, which minimises the normal intake of life-sustaining nutrients.

“Copper and silver ionisation process can help in killing cryptosporidium, E-Coli, V. Cholera and many other types of bacteria and viruses,” informed Dr KC Pant, senior physician at the Doon Hospital.

Once inside an algae cell, silver attacks sulfur that contains amino acid residues in the proteins used for photosynthesis (the process that plants use for converting light into food and energy).

As a result, photosynthesis is blocked, which leads to cell death. If the algae cell manages to live, the reproduction process is hampered by the presence of silver ions and the spread of algae is checked. Bacteria is killed, rather that suppressed.

“Approximately 0.05 ppm (parts per million) silver electrodes are used to disinfect 160 million litres of water, which could last for eight months, while 0.01 ppm of silver electrodes can disinfect 80 million litres of water, which can last for 4-5 months,” said Devinder Singh Negi, superintendent engineer with the Peyjal Nigam.

Dehradun, June 2
A series of tests conducted by Society of Pollution and Environmental Conservation Scientists (SPECS), a local NGO, on quality of water in 40 different places in the May 2009 have shown that potable water being supplied to Doon residents by the Jal Sansthan has very high contents of chlorine and even coliform bacteria.

Notably, SPECS has been conducting potable water quality testing for the last 14 years and the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, has granted it a water-testing laboratory.

Scientists found super chlorination at Chander Nagar, Race Course, Dharampur, Faltu Line, Darshan Lal Chowk, Dobhal Wala and Rajpur Road (Moti Mahal) areas.

"Chlorine is a highly toxic gas and should not exceed 0.2 mg/l at the consumer end. If it is more than that it results in super chlorination, which is harmful to human as well as animal life," said Dr Brijmohan Sharma, secretary, SPECS.

To monitor the quality of water and check effectiveness of treatment, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has laid down certain specifications that must be followed.

However, according to data provided by the NGO, potable water quality was bad in the following places in Dehradun - Genral Mahadev Singh Road, Kanwali Road Malviya Road, Indresh Nagar, Bhandari Bagh, Lakhi Bagh, Dhamawala, Ajabpur, Nehru Colony, Tegbhadur Road, Inder Road, MDDA Colony, Nala Pani Road, Bhagat Singh Colony, Sapera Bast, Kewal Vihar, DL Road, Mansinghwala, Doon Vihar, Kali Das Road, Neshvilla Road, DM Residence, Chukhu Wala, Tagore Villa, Sayed Mohhalla, Krishan Nagar, Rajender Nagar, Vijay Park, Mohit Nagar, Indira Nagar, Vasant Vihar .

According to specifications, the aim should be to reduce coliform count to less than 10 per 100 ml of water and ensure total absence of faecal coliform bacteria.

The maximum level of coliform (per 100ml) of water was found at Sapera Basti (330), Kewal Vihar (280) Bhagat Singh Colony (268), Doon Vihar (219), Lakhi Bagh (119), Inder Road (112) and General Mahadev Singh Road (92).

Scientists from SPECS also tested presence of residual chlorine, total coliform and faecal coliform in all the 40 places in Dehradun.

While maximum number of faecal coliform per 100 ml of water was found at Sapera Basti (120), Bhagat Singh Colony (80), Doon Vihar (76), DL Road (58), Lakhibagh (56), Keval Vihar (56), Neshvilla Road, Indira Nagar and Ajabpur (42 each).

As per standards, faecal coliform bacteria in water should be zero, as it is responsible for serious stomach ailments in human beings.

Dehradun, June 2
The Public Works Department (PWD) has sought permission from the forest authorities to axe a total of 75 trees of different species in Parade Ground and Gandhi Park for the improvement and widening of Kanak Chowk in the heart of the city to facilitate traffic de-congestion.

This is believed to be the first time that a proposal to cut such a large number of trees at the same time has been made since Dehradun became the state capital.

The step is part of the project to improve and widen 30 road crossings in the city sanctioned under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).

These trees are standing inside boundaries of the public places at the left and right turn of the road as one approaches Kanak Chowk while coming from Lansdowne Chowk. These trees have to be removed to clear about 7m space at both turns for the purpose.

This will help widen the turns to accommodate the burgeoning flow of traffic towards Ashley Hall and Doon Club sides, said officials.

District Magistrate Amit Singh Negi had issued instructions to speed up the work in the meeting held on May 20.

A letter was sent to the District Forest Officer BK Gangte on May 25 for his department’s clearance on priority basis to cut the trees.

But the same is lying pending since then as Gangte said that he was yet to see the letter. But the PWD authorities do not expect any hurdles from the forest department in this regard.

Negi said that the cutting of trees had become indispensable in view of increasing traffic congestion.

“But we are sensitive towards the environmental aspect. So it has been decided to plant trees inside re-demarcated boundaries at both places,” he said, adding that most of them are eucalyptus trees which have to be cut after a certain time.

Dehradun, June 2
Jairam Ramesh, Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests (independent charge), has claimed that the country has been able to maintain its forest cover despite growing population.

On his first visit to various Minister of Environment and Forests offices in Dehradun, he said that there was a popular feeling that the forest area in the country was getting fast eroded.

On the contrary, both the forest and tree cover areas have stood their ground despite developmental pressures, he claimed.

“While 20 per cent of the total land mass of the country comprised forest cover, another three per cent comprised trees outside forests,” Jairam Ramesh said.

He also made a point that the nation’s forestry statistics were very much authentic as it came through satellite imagery.

“For the last 20 years, we have been dependent on this satellite data that is authentic and full proof,” he said adding that the satellite data doesn’t lie.

On the increasing problem of forest fires, the minister admitted that the forest fires were a problem.

“It has just been three days since I assumed office. I will be looking into it shortly,” Ramesh said.

On his visit to Dehradun on the third day after assuming charge as minister, Jairam Ramesh described Dehradun as the bio-diversity capital of the country.

“All important offices linked to forestry are located in Dehradun and thus this place assumes much significance in policy formulation linked to forestry,” Ramesh said.

When asked about the increasing vulnerability of tigers in the country, Ramesh said while the National Tiger Conservation Authority was working for tiger protection, steps would be taken to further strengthen the efforts towards safeguarding this charismatic species. Later, he interacted with scientists at the Indian Council of Forestry Education.

Thousands of farmers from various states participated at the convention. The next one is scheduled to be held in New Delhi later this year.