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Revised design for check-dam planned

KASARAGOD: A revised design for the construction of a check dam at Bavikkara in the district at the confluence of Payaswini and Karicheri rivers to prevent intrusion of saline water upstream from where water is drawn for public distribution in Kasaragod is under scrutiny, Water Resources Minister N.K. Premachandran has said.

When completed, it would ensure distribution of safe drinking water in the Kasaragod municipality, he said.

Speaking to mediapersons here, Mr. Premachandran said the government expected that the construction of check dam based on the revised design could be completed by May-end, 2009.

The Minister said the present design had to be abandoned as it was found that it would not help prevent saline water intrusion. The revised design was being checked by a committee headed by a former professor of the IIT Chennai.

As per the design, the estimate would go up 60 per cent. The Minister criticised the municipality for the delay in completing the work. The project for Bavikkara check dam was approved in 1987, said Mr. Premachandran.

The administrative sanction was given in 2003 and the work was tendered three years ago, pointed out the Minister. The Minister said the municipality had to submit a project for finding a permanent solution to the shortage of drinking water in Kasaragod.

He said a large number of municipalities in the State received aid from the Centre under the scheme. The Union government had approved an aid of Rs.92 crore to the Alappuzha municipality as per the scheme.

Mr. Premachandran said that Kasaragod MLA C.T. Ahmed Ali assured him that the municipality would soon take steps to submit a project under the scheme for the supply of drinking water to the residents of Kasaragod and nearby panchayats.

Earlier, at a meeting organised to review the water supply schemes and irrigation projects in the district, the officials said the Emunicipality had not considered the projects submitted by them for finding a solution to the drinking water shortage in the town.

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