Nagpur 24×7 – Orange City Water Project (OCW)

Nagpur’s smart water management is an example for other cities across India. The first city to take the lead is Nagpur, Maharashtra. Now included in the smart cities list, it has inhabitants of over 2.5 million people and is the first city of its size in the nation to outsource water supply to a private operator under the PPP model for 25 years. Under the scheme the main objective was to provide 24-hour 100% safe drinking water to 100% population including slum dwellers within five years. The second objective was to reduce non-revenue water (50% water supplied to towns which is untraceable, not recorded and not paid for) to below 25% in 10 years. The project included management of the entire water cycle from production, treatment, transport, storage and delivery to the customer’s tap. It involved replacement of over three lakh house service connections, rehabilitation of treatment facilities, service reservoirs and pipelines.

“Now every household has a tap and a meter irrespective of whether it is a slum, a flat or a bungalow. There is accountability for every drop of water supplied the first time,” says Arun Lakhani, chairman and managing director, Vishvaraj Infrastructure Ltd (VIL India), which executed the Nagpur Orange City Water Project (OCW).

The aim of the project Nagpur 24×7 was to address problems of water that was being wasted and not getting billed. The city was supplying 575 million litres per day (mld) of treated water of which only 175 mld was getting billed and paid for. Most meters were either non-existent or non functional. Also, the city was receiving water supply for eight to 10 hours or on alternate days. The tanker mafia added to the problem. On the sewage side, the city was generating 550 mld of sewage and had the capacity to treat only 100 mld.

The remaining untreated sewage was polluting water bodies that supplied water to the city. For this project, the private company invested 30% of the estimated project cost, 70% grants came from the JNNURM scheme, shared by both the state and the Central government. The project was initiated by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation. This project has showcased as the model case study for other cities at the launch of Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) and Smart City initiative. The company also undertook a waste water reuse project for Nagpur city under which National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) will be reusing 200 mld of treated water from the STP for its Mauda plant. By doing so, the city will get an additional 200 million litres per day of water, which is enough for 200 lakh people.

Vishvaraj Infrastructure Ltd Supports Badminton Players

We are a nation of over a billion people. Yet, when it comes to sports, the most we can talk about is cricket. It is pertinent there is a private player hand to promote various sports, like the Indian Football League. Vishvaraj Infrastructure Ltd (VIL) has understood the importance of having a strong contingent of sportsmen in this country and diversity of having various sportsman playing different sports.

In a move to create more avenues for sportsman to grow and make their life a tad bit easier, VIL has decided to sponsor the talented city duo of Arundhati Pantawane and Rasika Raje, badminton players, on a long-term basis. The company is committed to bear the expenses of travelling, lodging and boarding arrangements of both Arundhati and Rasika whenever they play national and international tournaments.

Nagpur 24×7 Water is Attainable, VIL India

Water can be renewed and reused, and if you go by what Vishvaraj Infrastructure Limited (VIL), a water management firm based in Nagpur is saying then even Nagpur 24×7 water supply is achievable. This belief comes at a time when low levels of service and waste water mismanagement is being witnessed in many cities of India.

VIL India believe that successful continuous water supply is possible. Projects in Nagpur 24X7 and other places have shown results of water being able to reach peoples home continuously.

VIL Infra feels the problem of water shortage is related to water management inefficiencies than water scarcity. According to the company focus should now be concentrated on improving these efficiencies in water usage.

The Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, National Water Development Agency and Central Water Commission have organized India Water Week 2016 to be organised from April 4 to April 8, 2016 on the theme Water for all: Striving together.

VIL India provides global solutions that contribute to sustainable development in the water sector through innovation in the design, construction and operation of drinking water treatment plants, distribution system reforms, etc.

VIL Sees Growth With Water Privatization

Water privatisation is a quarrelsome issue, but it really shouldn’t, as its benefits are multiple. Companies like Vishvaraj Infrastructure Limited (VIL) who won two major awards in the sector at the recent World Water Leadership Congress & Awards may play a huge role in the privatisation of water.

The company won the presitigious Water Reuse Project of the Year and Mr Arun Lakhani, VIL’s chairman and managing director won the award for Outstanding Contribution to Water.

WHO Content With Nagpur 24 x 7

After taking a closer look at Nagpur’s water project conducted by Vishvaraj Infrastructure Limited’s (VIL), The World Health Organisation (WHO), has been quite content. The project aims to bring continuous water supply and better quality of water in the city

Working with French company, Veolia Water, VIL has set up a 50:50 joint venture SPV company called    ‘Orange City Water Ltd‘. Its objective is to provide 24 x 7 water supply to 100% population including hutment-dwellers in five years. The cost for this project is $ 95 million.

A Healthy Environment Leads To Better Business, VIL India

It is not often said, but there are still companies in that first take a look at the environment, before commencing on any projects.  One such company is VIL India who has been leading the way, especially in areas or water, waste water and infrastructure.

With solutions based and focused on larger environmental issues and by addressing them, the ecology of river self-rejuvenation helps a company to become more effective in proposing solutions. Arun Lakhani, VIL’s chairman and director is a believer in such a policy.

This can easily be seen through VIL’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme with its central focus on people in a Public—Private Partnership (PPP). In fact, every PPP project at Vishvaraj Infra is conceived to benefit the people and the environment.

Any CSR intiative done with the ecology and people in mind will be a success. In his own words, Arun Lakhani says “Without the active involvement of ‘People’ from conceptualisation to the final execution no PPP project can hope for long-term success.”

Vishvaraj Infrastructure Ltd provides global solutions that contribute to sustainable development in the water sector through innovation in the design, construction and operation of drinking water treatment plants, distribution system reforms, etc.

Being Innovative Is Vishvaraj Infrastructures Key

The need for innovation is the truest form through which a company can survive, especially in a competitive environment, the need is more relevant. Luckily or maybe a good business practice by Vishvaraj Infrastructure Limited (VIL) is its need for consistent innovations.

These key innovations are seen in all its projects from the ones based in India to the ones conducted abroad.  VIL’s core strength is its unique ability to design innovative structuring of Public Private Partnership projects themselves.

Arun Lakhani shares, VIL’s core strength is its unique ability to design innovative structuring of Public Private Partnership projects.

Vishvaraj Infrastructure Limited Finds The P In PPP

When it comes to making a sustainable and often accurate and useful corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative, many forget the P in a Public—Private Partnership (PPP). At Vishvaraj Infrastructure Limited (VIL), the P is revered. After all, at VIL the fourth hidden P in PPP is people.

With such a philosophy, Arun Lakhani, VIL’s chairman and director, is able to transform PPP to a division which is more humane face and greater sensitivity towards its largest stakeholder- the people. “The factoring in of this fourth P as a central focus has a completely transformative impact on the long-term success of the project,” the chairman says.

In fact, every PPP project at Vishvaraj Infra is conceived to benefit the people. But the reality of the corporate world remains in numbers, and maybe that’s where people get lost. Studies done prove that the reasons behind the failure of certain CSR initiative’s is the erosion of not including people. “Without the active involvement of ‘People’ from conceptualisation to the final execution no PPP project can hope for long-term success,” Arun Lakhani says.

Thus, the only way to truly find a solution which can bring about a sustainable and often accurate and useful corporate social responsibility is through open communication and transparency by bringing people in the fold. This clearly is a business imperative for PPP rather than a CSR initiative.