The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Madurai News : Rs.15-cr plan to tackle water crisis

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Apr 03, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Madurai

Rs.15-cr plan to tackle water crisis

By Our Staff Reporter

MADURAI, APRIL 2. The present storage in the Periyar and Vaigai reservoirs could cater to the city's drinking water requirement till May 15. The Madurai Corporation has an alternative plan at an estimated cost of Rs. 15 crores to maintain the water supply after May 15, if summer showers play truant, the City Engineer, K. Sakthivel, told the Corporation council on Friday.

Denying the Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader, S. Mahalingam's complaint that water supplied in the city was `foul-smelling,' Mr. Sakthivel said the Corporation was supplying `protected' water and there was no panic of breakout of any disease. The present storage in Vaigai dam would last till April 30 and water from Periyar dam would prolong supply till May 15.

Referring to last 10 years' rainfall data, Mr. Sakthivel said that summer showers were likely to mitigate water crisis. "If it failed, we have an alternative plan."

Mr. Mahalingam warned that the city had the added responsibility to quench the thirst of lakhs of devotees during the Chithirai festival. When the Commissioner, D.J. Dinakaran, said 21 water tanks would be installed at vantage points to supply drinking water, Mr. Mahalingam asked him to form a committee of officials and councillors to look after arrangements.

Mr. Mahalingam and the Congress leader, I. Siluvai, complained that there was no drinking water available in any of the bus stands maintained by the Corporation. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam member, V.K. Gurusamy, said the electoral roll revision under way in the city was far from satisfactory. Stating that in many places the enumerators had not visited houses, he said only 40-50 per cent of the houses had been covered so far. He wanted the officials to ensure that the whole exercise was completed within the stipulated time.

The Commissioner said the local body would float a tender to remove the debris of buildings demolished during the encroachment removal drive.

The Mayor, C. Ramachandran, moved a resolution allowing putting up of summer `pandals' in the city for three months, after getting due permission from the local body, failing which the pandals would be considered encroachments and removed.

The resolution, which was unanimously passed, said residents were allowed to put up `pandals' for seven days during Chithirai festival and for three days during other temple festivals.

The `pandals' should not hinder public and vehicular movement.

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