COIMBATORE: The Coimbatore Mayor, T. Malaravan, surprised everyone by submitting a memorandum to the visiting Kerala Chief Minister, Oommen Chandy, appealing for raising the height of the Siruvani Dam.

Even more surprising is the fact that the memorandum did not reflect any concern for the suburbs that are struggling to meet the rising demand for Siruvani water but are supplied with only 10 million litres a day against 95 mld for the city.

Though the Mayor may be expected to speak only for the city that has elected him, the Corporation is aware of the demand for more Siruvani water in the fringes. In fact, the Kavundampalayam Municipality has even sought water from the Corporation.

The Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage (TWAD) Board has drawn up alternative schemes for the local bodies in the southern, western and north western periphery of the city such as Kurichi, Kuniamuthur, Vadavalli, Veerakeralam and Kavundampalayam.

Funds crunch

As these local bodies try to identify source of funds, the burgeoning population in these areas has led to demand for more water. But the local bodies have a very meagre resource. At present, they see more allocation under the Siruvani scheme as a solution until implementation of the alternative schemes.

The TWAD Board has mooted a scheme for the Coimbatore Corporation also. The Pilloor phase-II

scheme is to be implemented at a cost of around Rs. 110 crores. It is yet to be implemented; even

five years after the proposal was made. And, with indications of more time being taken for

clearance and funds allocation, the Corporation, too, is forced to make do with the Siruvani scheme and the existing Pilloor scheme that supplies 65 mld to the city.

In his memorandum to Mr. Chandy, the Mayor has pointed out that the city's population is 11 lakhs and that more water is needed. Though one half of the city is provided with Pilloor water, water managers point out that the population is increasing rapidly and the city cannot be pulled out of the Siruvani scheme.

Excess quantity

In such a situation, the immediate option available is to raise the height of the Siruvani Dam by at least three feet. The memorandum points out that during the construction of the dam in 1978, the then Chief Engineer of the Irrigation Department of Kerala had stated that there was scope for increasing the height by another nine feet (from 66 ft to 75 ft) to increase the present capacity of 650 million cubic ft to 837 mcft.

Now, the Corporation wants it to be raised by at least three feet so that more than 60 mcft can be stored in the dam. At present, excess water is wasted through overflow.

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