Tamil Nadu - Tiruchi   

Drinking water scheme to be over before schedule

— Photo: M. Moorthy

Essential: M.K. Stalin, Local Administration Minister, second from right, inspecting the work on Ramanathapuram Combined Drinking Water Scheme, at Kadiyakuruchi in Tiruchi.

TIRUCHI: Ramanathapuram Combined Drinking Water Supply Scheme, being executed by the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage (TWAD) Board at a cost of Rs.616 crore, would be completed 13 months ahead of schedule, Local Administration Minister M. K. Stalin said here on Sunday.

“Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, while laying the foundation stone for the project, had announced that the government would reward the officials if they commissioned the scheme within two years against the time schedule of three years. The Local Administration Department had taken it as a challenge and going by the pace of work, the project would be completed within 23 months,” Mr. Stalin told reporters after inspecting the construction of the collector wells for the project on the Cauvery River, the source, at Mutharasanallur near Tiruchi. The foundation stone for the project was laid on January 30, 2007.

The scheme would tap about 100 million litres of water a day and about 1.289 tmc a year.

The water would be pumped to Rameswaram, about 281 km away. Pumping mains and distribution lines would be laid for a stretch of nearly 750 kilometres to serve five municipalities, 11 town panchayats and 3,163 rural habitations in Ramanathapuram, Sivagangai and Pudukottai districts.

The scheme would benefit an existing population of 15,75,682 and a projected population of 19,75,731 in the ultimate stage by 2036.

Four collector wells were being established at Kadiyakurichi and Mutharasanallur on the Cauvery River for the project.

National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has extended a financial assistance of Rs.273.12 crore and Tamil Nadu Urban Finance and Infrastructure Development Corporation (TUFIDCO) would provide Rs.282.01 crore for the project.

Mr. Stalin dismissed apprehensions that the project could affect the drinking water sources serving Tiruchi City and neighbouring areas.

“These are politically motivated rumours,” he said and added that only the surface water of the river is to be tapped for the scheme.

Mr. Stalin also stated that the foundation stone for another mega water supply scheme for Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri, funded by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, would be laid on Tuesday.

Transport Minister K.N. Nehru, Forest Minister N. Selvaraj, Collector Ashish Vachhani, TWAD Board Chief Engineer M. Chandrasekaran and Superintending Engineer V. Mathivanan briefed Mr. Stalin on the progress of the project.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Drinking water scheme to be over before schedule
Two model panchayats identified in each union
She brings out the best of Tamil music
“Be aware of uniqueness in learning process”
“Contribute to development of Tamil”
Mettur level
Major research project for Bharathidasan University
Stock exchange mooted for small, medium units
“Join hands to help the mentally challenged”
Certificates verified
Slash in passenger fares well received
Contractors shy away from school buildings
Welfare board: folk artistes asked to register their names
New police station building inaugurated
In Tiruchi Today

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu