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Bhagirathi Nal-Jal YojanaCHHATTISGARH

Bhagirathi Nal-Jal YojanaContext and Extent

Chhattisgarh (formed: 2000) has a population of 255.4 million (Census 2011).

Of the above, nearly 76.62 million live in 168 urban areas. More than half of the urban population lives in the ten

Municipal Corporation towns. 46.38 % of these are poor (Tendulkar Committee). In fact nearly

60% are poor or near-poor and live in slums. Providing free civic services to half the urban population

has pushed the ULBs to financial anemia. Water management in the user-fee mode is a small first

step to correct this anemia. BNJY was launched in all ULBs, with special thrust in

Bhilai.

Bhagirathi Nal-Jal YojanaServices to the Poor

An initiative for inclusive urban growth.

Water is the most basic of civic services.

Inclusive urban growth must begin with water for all.

Piped water reaching the doorstep of the poor means to them what Ganga flowing down the plains meant to India: an epochal event in life!

Hence the name: Bhagirathi Nal-Jal Yojana.

Bhagirathi Nal-Jal YojanaFor Urban Water Management

A scheme for urban slum-dwellers.

A slum-dweller applies for piped water supply.

He undertakes to pay the user charge for the water.

The ULB provides free-of-cost, but subject to a fair ceiling, the cost of pipe, meter and tap.

The ULB organizes the water-connection free of charges.

The beneficiary is thus weaned out of a regime of free-be to a regime of user-charges.

In Chhattisgarh, where nearly 50% of the urban population is poor, the scheme has vast ramifications for urban water management.

Bhagirathi Nal-Jal YojanaInauguration: SEPTEMBER 2009

Bhagirathi Nal-Jal YojanaObjectives of the Scheme

To lift the service level in water supply: to provide piped water supply on affordable terms to nearly 3 lac families in the State.

To wean the urban poor from a regime of ‘free-be’ to a regime of ‘user-fee’.

To include urban poor in the growth process by improving their living conditions, especially of the women, through easing their struggle to access water.

To cut wastage of water at public taps.

Bhagirathi Nal-Jal YojanaCarrot and Stick

The scheme is optional, but the wisdom of opting for it is driven home to the minds of the beneficiaries.

They are told that the days of free-running municipal tap are numbered.

Piped water in one’s own home is presented as a status symbol.

Heavy penalty (plus shame) looms over those that may think of drawing an illegal pipe-line into their homes.

In the slums of Rising India, this scheme is very appealing!

Bhagirathi Nal-Jal YojanaImplementation Process

Coverage: All ULBs in the State. A demand-based scheme with no limits on ULBs for number of beneficiaries.

Slum Selection: MIC/PIC of the ULB selects the slums according to its priority.

Implementation Committee: Ward Member concerned + AE i/c Water Supply + other members as nominated by MIC / PIC.

Mobilization Camp: ULB organizes a camp in the slum, to explain the scheme and the consequences of not opting for piped water supply.

Application & Approval: On the spot. Title over land/house is not an issue for grant of tap-connection.

Bhagirathi Nal-Jal YojanaImplementation Process… Contd

Demand for Funds required: On the basis of applications received, the Committee computes the investment, and the ULB raises a demand on State Urban Development Agency (SUDA), the SLNA.

Funds Flow: ULB proceeds with execution in anticipation of funds flow from SUDA.

Scope: ULB is reimbursed for (a) distribution pipe (b) civil work (c) tap fittings, and (d) water-meter.

Cap on expenditure: actual expenses, subject to ceiling of Rs.3,000/- per connection .

Bhagirathi Nal-Jal YojanaExtent, Coverage and Thrust ULB

All ULBs are covered under the scheme.

Demand from Corporation ULBs is much higher than smaller ULBs.

BMC is the thrust-ULB for this scheme.

As thrust-ULB, BMC has shown more achievement than others.

The focus of this presentation is on BMC.

Bhagirathi Nal-Jal YojanaBMC: The Thrust ULB

BMC area is divisible into two clear parts, separated by the Kolkatta-Mumbai rail-line. Southern part is BSP township, Northern part is general township.

BSP township is better in terms of civic services; general township has mixed profile. Slums are located here alongside posh colonies.

BMC’s thrust was in these slums in general township area.

Bhagirathi Nal-Jal YojanaVJY and BNJY

BMC had earlier launched a water augmentation scheme in 2006 called Vrihad Jal Yojana (VJY).

VJY had brought water to main supply lines, but had ignored the last stretch. BNJY filled this gap.

BNJY began where VJY had left.

Bhagirathi Nal-Jal YojanaBhilai: Backdrop

At first sight Public taps appear to be plenty.

In Raipur there are 7,473 public taps, servicing 1.11 lacfamilies. It corresponds to 1 tap for 15 families!

In Bhilai this ratio is 12, if the project area of Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP) is included.

If BSP area is excluded, the tap-to-families ratio soars to 30!

In 2008, out of total 1.5 lac households in Bhilai, piped water was available to only 8,000 households!

Result: Endless “water-rage” incidents at the public tap!

Bhagirathi Nal-Jal YojanaBMC: Un-ending Thankless Job!

For BMC, it water supply was an unending thankless job.

Public taps drained away its finances, and fetched no revenue!

Public taps, ironically, meant both: fight for scarce water , and waste of run-off water.

Whenever required, tankers had to augment public-tap water, implying more expenditure for the ULB.

Altogether, it meant hassles for the poor and losses for the ULB: a lose-lose situation!

Bhagirathi Nal-Jal YojanaChanges Made Through Field Learning

Connection to domestic line has been changed from traditional Ferul system to Strap-Saddle technique.

Likewise, for the “last-mile” HDPE pipe has been used instead of GI pipe.

Benefits include:

Prevention of contamination caused by leakage due to rusting; and

Reduction in conveyance losses .

Bhagirathi Nal-Jal YojanaCommercial Innovation

Identification: Every household has been provided a unique account number.

Billing: Billing is done at door-step through a hand-held billing device.

Benefits: Benefits of above innovation include –

Householder is saved the bother to visit BMC office for payment of water bill;

Corporation’s time in manual billing and collection is saved;

Misappropriation of revenue by field-staff is eliminated.

Bhagirathi Nal-Jal YojanaAchievement in Thrust ULB: BMC

Sl. No

Particulars June 2010 Aug 2011

1 Applications received and processed 22,442 32,205

2 For General Paid Connections 4,982 7159

3 For free connections under Bhagirathi Nal-jal Yojana 17,460 25,126

4 Agencies involved 2 2

5 Gangs deployed for work 24 21

6 Average connections per week under Bhagirathi Nal-jal Yojana

310 198

7 Connections operationalized 6,925 13,323

8 BMC’s target for the year (households) 50,000 50,000

9 BMC’s target for the year (beneficiaries) 2,50,000 2,50,000

Bhagirathi Nal-Jal YojanaState Achievement At A Glance

Sl. No Name of the ULB Connections Jun 2010 Connections Aug 2011

1 Raipur Municipal Corporation 345 3000

2 Bilaspur Municipal Corporation 686 2586

3 Korba Municipal Corporation 150 450

4 Ambikapur Municipal Corporation 230 1350

5 Rajnandgaon Municipal Corporation 50 8000

6 Janjgir Municipality 215 4273

7 Bhilai-Charoda Municipality 2173 2173

8 Bagbahara Nagar Panchayat 1575 1,575

9 Kirodimalnagar Nagar Panchayat 110 110

10 Lormi Nagar Panchayat 413 413

11 Dhamtari Municipality — 12,160

12 Bhilai Municipal Corporation 17,460 25,126

13 Dharamjaygarh Nagar Panchayat 90 90

14 Raigarh Municipal Corporation — 12,548

Bhagirathi Nal-Jal YojanaState Achievement At A Glance

Sl. No Name of the ULB Connections Jun 2010 Connections Aug 2011

15 Balrampur Nagar Panchayat 26 26

16 Badi-Bacheli Municipality — 442

17 Saria Nagar Panchayat 350 350

18 Bijapur Nagar Panchayat — 656

19 Ahiwara Nagar Panchayat — 1,593

20 Lelunga Nagar Panchayat — 752

21 Pithora Nagar Panchayat — 128

22 Lakhanpur Nagar Panchayat — 114

23 Vadrafnagar Nagar Panchayat — 187

24 Charama Nagar Panchayat — 153

25 Saraipali Nagar Panchayat — 1043

26 Barsoor Nagar Panchayat — 890

27 Pusaur Nagar Panchayat — 391

28 Kwardha Municipality — 500

Bhagirathi Nal-Jal YojanaState Achievement At A Glance

Sl. No Name of the ULB Connections Jun 2010 Connections Aug 2011

29 Gaurela Nagar Panchayat — 372

30 Adbhar Nagar Panchayat — 1539

31 Sarangarh Nagar Panchayat — 207

32 Lavan Nagar Panchayat — 1300

33 Khairagarh Municipality — 102

34 Jashpur Municipality — 389

35 Mungeli Municipality — 3744

36 Bhatapara Municipality — 1816

37 Saja Nagar Panchayat — 224

38 Pandariya Nagar Panchayat — 350

39 Chura Nagar Panchayat — 196

40 Sahaspur-Lohara Nagar Panchayat — 17

41 Sakri Nagar Panchayat — 91

42 Bagicha Nagar Panchayat — 149

Bhagirathi Nal-Jal YojanaState Achievement At A Glance

Sl. No Name of the ULB Connections Jun 2010 Connections Aug 2011

43 Nagri Nagar Panchayat — 40

44 Tiphura Nagar Panchayat — 797

45 Kharaud Nagar Panchayat — 315

46 Baikhundpur Municipality — 756

47 Jamul Municipality — 230

48 Dipika Municipality — 414

49 Abhanpur Nagar Panchayat — 112

50 Bilaigarh Nagar Panchayat — 121

51 Rajpur Nagar Panchayat — 96

52 Daundi Nagar Panchayat — 165

53 Chuikhadan Nagar Panchayat — 56

54 Takhatpur Nagar Panchayat — 320

55 Kotba Nagar Panchayat — 348

Total 29,798 95,345

Bhagirathi Nal-Jal YojanaImpact Assessment: Beneficiaries

General: Enhanced self-esteem!

Family Income: Housewife has more time now for supplemental income-generating activities.

Gender Factor: Girls don’t need to miss school to fetch water from Municipal Taps.

Floor Space: Living space in the DU has increased through elimination of numerous water-filled containers occupying floor-space!

Harmony: Better relations in neighborhood because of elimination of water-place squabbles.

Bhagirathi Nal-Jal YojanaImpact Assessment: ULBs

The culture of user-fee introduced among the urban poor.

An indirect intervention for urban poverty alleviation.

Wastage of water at public taps checked.

Annual revenue from water has risen by an estimated Rs.6,48,00,000.00.

Bhagirathi Nal-Jal YojanaSustainability

Bhagirathi Nal-jal Yojana is a scheme that involves a cost benefit to the ULB as also the beneficiaries. It is therefore self-sustaining.

Presently charges are on flat rate. A new challenge will present when the system is changed to metered system.

The scheme will be incorporated into Rajiv AwasYojana.

In the Lease Deed prepared in CG for allotment of DUs under BSUP/IHSDP/RAY, regular payment of water charges is a condition.

Bhagirathi Nal-Jal YojanaReplicability

Bhagirathi Nal-jal Yojana can be easily replicated anywhere.

It can be replicated in either of the two modes: implementation directly by ULB or through PPP.

Core of the scheme’s success lies in effective billing and revenue-collection mechanism. The hand-held device is very useful in this regard.

The task can be easily outsourced.

The pipe, tap, fittings and meter are free, so is the installation.

Wow! It works!

‘I had dreamt of this for years!’ Our Tap! Our Water!!

No wasting water now. The meter will tell!My Tap! My dear!

… in men as in women!Tap at home has enhanced self-esteem!

Bad Scheme! I must bathe everyday now!Tap at home means more time for

other jobs, more income!

A Small Idea, Full of Promise

Thank You!