Southern States - Pondicherry   

PWD to take over rural water supply

By Our Staff Reporter

The Chief Minister, N. Rangasamy, laying the foundation stone for an overhead tank at Thondamanatham in Pondicherry on Thursday. The Local Administration Minister, A. Elumalai, looks on. — Photo: T. Singaravelou

PONDICHERRY NOV.6. The Public Works Department (PWD) will soon take over the water supply and maintenance in rural areas that fall under various commune panchayats and municipalities, according to the Chief Minister, N. Rangasamy.

Laying the foundation stone for water supply schemes at Thondamanatham, Pillairkuppam, Koodapakkam and Koodapakkampet today, Mr. Rangasamy said that the transfer of power to the PWD from the local bodies would help in improving the quality of water supply in rural areas.

"Water supply should not be a concern to the people. Whenever someone comes to meet me from the villages they always have a grouse about the water supply in their area. When the PWD takes over the supply, the problem will be solved", he added.

Already the water supply in urban areas in Pondicherry was under the control of the PWD. Since the commune panchayats were unable to deliver the goods properly, the decision to handover charge to the PWD was taken. Mr. Rangasamy had earlier announced the decision on the floor of the Assembly. Another division might be started to care of the rural water supply division and the PWD was likely to spend about Rs 2-3 crores in addition for maintenance.

The Chief Minister also announced that for the first time a water treatment plant to treat iron content in the water would be set up at Koodapakkam and Koodapakkampet.

Later the Executive Engineer, Anandan, said that some 16 villages including Mannadipattu, Agaram and Sendhanatham in the Union Territory had the problem of excess iron content in water. According to Government of India guidelines, iron content in the water can be upto 1 milligram per litre.

But according to a survey conducted in the 16 villages, the level is very excessive and the people are suffering due to coloured water. "The levels range from 2.5 ppm (parts per million) to 3.5 ppm. We have located a Chennai-based company Aqua Designs, which has low cost technology for removal of iron. They will be using a combination of aeration technique and chemical treatment to remove the iron. They will transfer the technology to us, complete the project and also give training for our staff.''

Already two units were being constructed at Agaram and Sendhanatham and the work would be completed before March 2004, Mr Anandan added.

The Local Administration Minister, A. Elimalai, who presided over the functions said the protected water supply scheme at Koodapakkam and Koodapakkapet would be implemented at a cost of Rs. 69.95 lakh each.

At Thondamanatham, the Rs. 59-lakh scheme was for augmented water supply for a population of 3385. At Pillaiyarkuppam the scheme was to augment water supply at a cost of 60.74 lakhs, he added.

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