Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore   

Silent on Pilloor water scheme

By K. V. Prasad

COIMBATORE, MARCH 14 . It is not found in the list of new schemes that actually has old schemes too. Neither is it included in the list of old schemes and their current status. Clearly, the Corporation's budget for the year 2005-06 is silent on the Rs. 110-crore Pilloor second phase drinking water scheme to supply 125 million litres a day (mld) to the city.

Evolved in 1999, it is seen as vital for a city with a burgeoning population that demands more drinking water from the limited resources in the existing first phase and the Siruvani scheme. Both schemes provide around 140 mld to the city but with severe strain as the expanding suburbs also demand more water.

Old schemes such as the Rs. 168.28-crore underground drainage scheme, solid waste management, e-governance, bus stand on Mettupalayam Road, subway at Gandhipuram, indoor stadium at G.V. Residency and a flower market complex have all found mention in the budget. Curiously, the water scheme has been left out amid a widespread opinion in the Corporation that it cannot afford another huge loan, as it has to repay the Rs. 100.90-crore loan to be obtained from the World Bank for the drainage scheme.

The Opposition is expected to raise the issue during discussions on the budget tomorrow. But murmurs of protest were already loud enough to convey the resentment today, barely minutes after the budget was presented.

M. Krishnaswamy of the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) asked: "How could they afford to omit mention of the much-needed Pilloor second water scheme for the city, given the drinking water crisis we went through for four years?"

A councillor of the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam said: "It is a great mistake. The skipping of the water scheme reflects total lack of vision. When the drainage scheme finds mention in the budget there is no reason why the important water scheme should be left out."

With the Information Technology park coming up, the Government had insisted upon the Corporation providing certain essential services. The most stressed was uninterrupted water supply, especially with multinational companies sure to set up shop, he said.

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