Price of Water

On the face of it, it should be simple. The price of water should include the capital cost, the operations and management cost and a sinking fund to replace the infrastructure once its life is over. Then you could consider wastewater and say the price of wastewater a consumer should pay includes its collection, conveyance to the treatment plant and its treatment cost. This would include the same three components — capital cost, operations and maintenance cost, and a sinking fund.

How many cities and towns in India follow this principle of recovering the full supply cost of water? The answer is ‘none.'

While this is the responsibility of the government and institutions running the water supply and sewerage systems, the results of such poor cost recovery are for everyone to see. No city in India can supply all its citizens with the requisite quantity and quality of water. No city collects all the sewage generated and treats it for release into the environment. No city has the resources to raise finance on its own to invest in the capital necessary for newer water sources or to extend services to the outskirts of cities. Capturing the true ecological cost of water is far away when even the supply cost is not recovered. In India, water is under ecological stress too. Catchments need protection, rivers have to be protected for them to flow perennially and the quality of water in lakes and reservoirs needs protection from pollution. The true ecological cost of water would be when the full supply cost and all the externalities are captured. Unless we move to a regime of capturing ecological costs, our water and sanitation systems will be under stress and many people will not have access to water and the numbers will increase. If a layout or an apartment has its own water resource, it too should move to recover full ecological costs from the consumers.

Meter your borewell for both water and energy. Capture the production cost of water and factor in a sinking fund to drill or deepen your borewell or simply to invest to recharge the borewells.

Pleasure of Nature

Pleasure of Waves-Andamans

The sun hinted at signs of retreating. Its golden rays gleamed across the water. The clock struck five and within minutes the splendour of the surroundings was concealed in a veil of darkness. A pathway hewn between a cluster of trees led us to a resort about which we had heard rave reviews. Beyond the lanky trees is a beautiful beach we were told. Our cottage was just a few meters away from the crescent shaped Radhanagar Beach, one of the most famed beaches of Asia. We were in Havelock, a highly popular island with tourists in the Andamans.

Barefoot is a resort by the sea. Cobbled pathways lead to cottages that have donned the colours of the earth. There are 10 fan-cooled Nicobari cottages, eight air-conditioned Andaman villas and an exclusive Nicobari suite. Locally available natural material like cane, bamboo and dried leaves have been extensively used in the construction. Cradled by a canopy of trees, these cottages, with warm lighting, thatched roofs, wooden floors and sunlit bathrooms, strike a chord with nature. There is a conscious effort to optimise the use of natural resources and integrate with the environment in a symbiotic manner. Walking into nature's arms was a pleasure and an experience to treasure.

Cosmopolitan spread

Recipes from around the world amidst aromas that are truly Indian have made their way into the kitchen at Barefoot. We treated ourselves to a platter of mouth-watering delicacies. The dishes ranged from chocolate pancakes and idlisfor breakfast to pasta and parathasfor lunch followed by gulab jamunsand chocolate truffle for dessert. Visitors can hang up their feet at the lounge bar and enjoy a drink too.

While we were at the restaurant one afternoon, the clonk of a bell cracked the silence. The tingle heralded the arrival of Rajan and all eyes turned in his direction. Rajan, a 60-year-old elephant, has made Havelock his home. Adopted by Barefoot, Rajan has become an icon of the resort. He has a long-standing relationship with his mahout with whom he shares an intimate bond. Rajan is taken into the forest during the day and spends the night at the resort. Among other things that make this gentle giant special is his ability to swim. He loves to wade into the water and paddle in the sea. Visitors can dive and snorkel with Rajan and have their photograph clicked underwater.

Lured by the exciting outdoors offered by Barefoot Adventures, we chalked out a plan for our stay at Havelock. Snorkelling, scuba diving, joy fishing, island camping, finding Rajan in the forest, diving with Rajan, kayaking and hiking in the nearby hills were some of the activities on offer. There are many good spots for snorkelling and scuba diving around Havelock. While scuba diving is for experts, snorkelling is for novices. With no prior experience, scuba diving would have been a tough proposition so we chose to explore the waters of the Andaman Sea with our snorkels.

Everything you want

Crystal clear waters, sun soaked beaches and strips of silvery sand draw beach buffs to Havelock. Spectacular coral reefs and colourful fish that dart underwater make this a great spot for snorkelling and scuba diving. Hills overlooking the sea and mangroves bordering rivulets add variety to the landscape. Be it walking along the beach, diving into the sea or just devouring delicious food, Havelock presents a slice of adventure, tossed in bright sunshine and garnished with a cool blue of the ocean.