COIMBATORE: At one stroke, the Corporation may get huge revenue from the over 20,000 drinking water connections it plans to provide in 533 unapproved layouts across the city. It says there is enough water for all and the new connections will not eat into others' share of water.

One-time payment

The Corporation spends Rs. 1 crore a year on providing drinking water in lorries to these layouts. It can now earn more than Rs. 8 crores by way of initial one-time payment for new connections.

The deposit of Rs. 1,000 and service charge of Rs. 3,000 for domestic connections will fetch this revenue, official sources say. Besides, centage charges (for laying pipes from the main line to houses) will also fetch a substantial income at the rate of Rs. 814 a square metre.

The connections will also bring half-yearly water consumption charges.

Of the nearly 22,000 houses on 35,000 plots in the unapproved layouts, it is assumed that around 1,000 houses may have obtained connections after paying a certain per cent of the development charges.

The civic body does not apprehend any impact on the water position from the release of these many connections.

These layouts are now supplied water in lorries once in four days. Alternate day supply will be made under the Siruvani and Pilloor schemes once house connections are given.

Officials in the Corporation claim there is surplus water. With 87 million litres a day (mld) and 65 mld supplied under the Siruvani and Pilloor schemes respectively, 130 litres per capita per day can be supplied even after the new connections are given.

Second phase

The officials agree that it may take at least two years for the Rs. 110-crore Pilloor second phase scheme (to supply 125 mld) to be implemented.

But, they are confident that the situation can be managed till then..

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