Category: NMC

City Lockdown:  Unsung Water Warriors

Nagpur, Apr 01, 2020: –  Despite coronavirus scare across the city, there are many unsung warriors who are ensuring we stay indoors without any problem. They are the everyday unsung water warriors from Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) and Orange City Water (OCW) who are working hard for 24xhours to ensure scheduled water supply to Nagpurians as well as entering in field resolving any complaints on priority.

Recently, a major leakage on 600 mm dia main distribution line near Shani Mandir, Loha Pool was plugged and water supply restored in many localities of Central Nagpur by such warriors before the scheduled time of emergency shutdown.

Further despite Corona threat, NMC OCW zonal teams are resolving on an average 100 complaints (pending and fresh) on a daily basis using all safety materials.

One of the valve man from Laxmi Nagar zone, who operates a valve from 4am to 12 noon at various places, said, “I ensure that I stay fit and fine so that I continue to play the vital role of supplying water to all Nagpurians. We took it as our moral responsibility to serve the society”

“Our responsibilities have increased as compared to normal working days. Even our seniors also encourage field teams especially supervisors and valve men by visiting at supply hours especially in the early morning or late night.

Amid coronavirus scare, we started feeling proud that we are real field soldiers who are supplying drinking water at Nagpur’s every tap,” he said when TOI spotted him operating a valve by wearing safety gear like a mask. He also carried a pass which mentioned that he is part of discharging essential services.

“Valve men play a vital role in the water supply system. Their day starts at 4 am and continues till midnight as they operate around 182 valves across the city for smooth water supply to every household,” said an OCW spokesperson.

Providing water supply to emergency establishments like Government Hospitals and other hospitals without any problem has been on NMC-OCW’s top priority list and NMC-OCW zonal teams are co-ordinating with all such hospitals etc.

Likewise, Rambhaau , a tanker driver from Wanjari Nagar ESR, said, “We feel proud as we supply water to slums wherein there are no taps. We have been provided masks and other safety gears. We visit people’s home during lockdown to supply water so that they stay indoors,” he said as NMC-OCW provides water in many non-network areas through tankers.

The NMC-OCW pressed 293 tankers and all the drivers into service and a similar number of helpers to have been provided with masks to stay safe while providing water through tankers.

Similar precautions are also being taken by 150-odd plant operators deployed at five water treatment plants – Gorewada (Pench-I, II, III), Kanhan WTP and Godhni WTP with safety masks etc.

Even NMC-OCW zonal teams deployed for maintenance and leakage repairing works are working or remaining alert in resolving no-water or polluted water complaints of consumers.

Under the leadership of NMC Municipal Commissioner Mr Tukaram Mundhe, NMC’s SE Shweta Bannarji & OCW CEO Sanjoy Roy appealed that, “We stayed at work to provide clean and safe drinking water at your taps right at your home. You stay at your home with family to keep the city and the nation safe.”

Other heroes include those who monitor the smooth functioning of the main pipeline.  They plug major leakages on pipeline and to clear technical snag at ESRs etc that develop during system operations, said the spokesperson.

Even the NMC-OCW surveillance staff team who takes care of bulk water supply from field too remains on toes. The 100-odd security guards too are playing a vital role to keep all the premises safe and secure.

In a bid to support social distancing as well as lockdown, NMC-OCW has already intensified online payment method. It has appealed to consumers to prefer online payment of water bills.

“Next cycle bills will be delivered on an average basis (no meter reading) and we have also stopped disconnection drive of defaulters,” the official added.

NMC-OCW has thanked and appealed all Nagpurians We stayed at work to provide clean and safe drinking water at your taps right at your home, to resolve your complaints etc. You stay at your home with family to keep the city and the nation safe. For any other information or complaints regarding water supply, you can anytime contact NMC-OCW Toll-Free Number: 1800-266-9899”

Nagpur, April 5: n a bid to sanitise all of its working premises, Zonal offices, Overhead Water Tanks (ESRs) Water Treatment Plants  Overhead Orange City Water (OCW ) indigenously developed a “High Pressure Sanitizing Equipment” (HPSE). Presently has started to disinfect surface, walls, surroundings, enclosed premises and Vehicles.

When chemical through  HPSE is sprayed on to any surface it disinfects the complete area. The chemical used is diluted  Sodium Hypochlorite(NaOCl) solution which, when is sprayed  as mist in the surrounding is extremely effective against bacteria, viruses and fungi.

A high-pressure pump of 25 Bar pressure fitted with a nozzle jet is used to spray the NaOCl solution.

The compact HPSE system has a Tank containing NaOCl, High-Pressure Jet Pump, a DG set to power the HPSE unit and associated cables and hoses. The compact system is mounted on a mobile vehicle and can be utilized for disinfecting the area as per the requirement.

Presently the essential services working spaces under the scope of Orange City Water Pvt Limited is being sanitized

Nagpur: Rooms at Vanamati and Ravi Bhavan with a capacity of 125 people filled up in a single day after officials quarantined a large number of people traced from the near contact list of Delhi positive patients issued by the state government.

The sudden rise prompted the health department of Nagpur Municipal Corporation, which was tasked with identifying the perpetrators, to begin making new plans as the numbers are likely to grow higher in the next few days.

MLA hostels, where the first Quarantine facility in the city was built on March 13, took about 21 days to fill up its 210 room in Wing II and III. On Wednesday, Nagpur NMC health department started planning for quarantine facilities for the old VNIT hostels at Bajaj Nagar.

VNIT officials said the authorities had been shown 200 to 300 old hostel rooms but they had yet to obtain any official acquisition document. The campus too had been shut down 10 days before the declaration of the national lockdown. Students at VNIT were told to leave by 16 March. Several institutions have vacant hostels, like the University of Nagpur, too. VNIT has the capacity to accommodate over 4000 people including the new hostels.

SDO Shekhar Ghadge said Vanamati facility began on Wednesday but on Thursday it was complete. “Thursday, 35 people were brought to Ravi Bhavan. Vanamati can seat up to 84 people. Two are sharing a room at both places, “he said.

Ghadge said the administration was looking into options and was thus inspecting the VNIT campus. “We don’t need to buy any real estate. Before we turn a place into a quarantine centre we weigh many factors. The divisional commissioner and the district collector must eventually determine, “he said.

As the number of suspected cases unexpectedly increased, he said NMC had been tasked with finding and taking them here. On Thursday the MLA hostels, where about 30 rooms were vacant a day earlier, were packed.

Ghadge said many people will soon complete their 14-day quarantine at the MLA hostel so vacant rooms would be available.

Divisional Commissioner Sanjeev Kumar claimed the spike in a number of suspects was mainly due to the repercussions from the Delhi list and the congregation Nizamuddin Tablighi.

There were also questions at Vanamati and Ravi Bhavan concerning the housekeeping and catering services. Sources said the workers were afraid to attend to the alleged COVID-19 incidents.

Initially, the operator of MLA hostels too had faced the same problem but somehow managed to maintain 80 staff who are now deployed there in two shifts.

Nagpur: Taking serious knowledge of recent cases, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) issued instructions on Tuesday to all private hospitals, radiology centers and pathology laboratories to provide information on pneumonia patients, severe acute respiratory diseases and high-risk patients immediately after admission, and to ensure that they are treated with all safety guidelines. The civic body has reportedly begun to obtain information from private medical services.

NMC Associate Medical Officer (Health) Dr. Praveen Gantawar told “Guidelines were needed to control Covid-19. Two patients were tested in two centres and one of them was admitted to the Janata Hospital. Later, these patients were tested positive. We had to seal Janata Hospital, Dhande’s Panorama MRI Center and Rainbow Medinova Diagnostic Centre. “Gantawar added,” We also had to quarantine a large number of doctors and related staff. Such instances and the spread of Covid-19 can be avoided if we get information in advance. We’re going to send our team of doctors and get these patients tested in the early stages. “Private hospitals and centres had begun to provide the information, he added.

The North Nagpur doctor informed NMC that a group of eight persons from Minimata Nagar Slum had returned from Lucknow the previous day and one of them had contacted him complaining of dry cough.

“Despite the sealing of borders, the group managed to enter the city, misusing a truck loaded with vegetables. One of them visited my clinic on Tuesday, complaining about the cough. I warned the NMC to check it out, “said the doctor.

The NMC team immediately attended the person and directed all eight people to observe quarantine at home. The NMC has yet to decide whether to grant approval for the restart of the Janata Hospital and the two diagnostic centres.

Gantawar said, “30 staff members of the Janata Hospital — doctors, nurses, pathologists, etc .— are transferred to the MLA Hostel for quarantine. Around seven staff from the two diagnostic centres were also sent to the MLA Hostel. One of the two patients was also admitted to GMCH after the Janata Hospital.” “GMCH has therefore begun to quarantine the doctors who examined and treated him. GMCH sent nurses and quarantine boys to the MLA Hostel. They’re all doing well and don’t have any symptoms, “he said.

Mayo Hospital and GMCH reported that all patients, excluding two patients from Buldana, were negative.

The NMC continued its door-to-door containment drive through the city. Driving is also taking place in a housing company located in front of Gandhisagar in central Nagpur, where one of the apartment owners tested positive a day ago.

कोव्हिड-19  विषाणूच्या पार्श्वभूमीवर नागपूर महानगरपालिका आयुक्त श्री. तुकाराम मुंढे यांच्या मार्गदर्शनाखाली कोव्हिड-19 हे अँप ( with the support of HLL Life Care GoI) तयार करण्यात आले आहे. ज्या नागरिकांना ताप, कोरडा खोकला व श्वास घेण्यास त्रास होत असेल त्यांनी खालील दिलेल्या लिंक वर क्लिक करुन सदर अँप डाऊनलोड करावा.

अँप  डाऊनलोड केल्या नंतर त्यामध्ये स्वत:च्या आजाराविषयी माहिती भरावी. संपूर्ण माहिती भरल्यावर सबमिट बटनवर क्लिक करावे.

सदर भरलेल्या माहितीच्या आधारे कोव्हिड-१९ ची लक्षणे असल्यास मनपा च्या डॉक्टरांना कळेल. त्या माहितीच्या आधारे मनपाचे डॉक्टर आपल्याशी संपर्क करुन पुढील कार्यवाही करतील.

कृपया खाली दिलेली लिंक क्लिक करा आणि ‘कोव्हिडं-19’ अँप डाउनलोड करा

इशारा : सदर अँप फक्त कोव्हिड- १९ चे लक्षणे जसे ताप, कोरडा खोकला व श्वास घेण्यास त्रास असणा-या नागरिकांसाठी आहे. इतरांनी सदर अँपचा वापर करु नये.

श्री. तुकाराम मुंढे (भा.प्र.से.)

आयुक्त

नागपूर महानगरपालिका, नागपूर