The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Water scheme DPR preparation begins

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Wednesday, Jul 02, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Water scheme DPR preparation begins

Special Correspondent

Though named as Tirusulam project, it will be executed in Alandur limits

“The DPR will comprise topographical survey, soil tests, and suitable locations for the structures”

TAMBARAM: Work on preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the ambitious, 8-year-old Tirusulam Hillock Water Supply Scheme for Alandur Municipality has commenced. First proposed and submitted to the Kancheepuram district administration in 2000, the project hit a dead-end for various reasons.

It was revived recently and after the Alandur Municipal Council gave its consent for the project, the State government too gave its nod for preparing the DPR.

Talking to reporters at his office recently, Alandur Municipal Chairman R. S. Bharathi said the local body was bound by hillocks from the southern end to the north.

As the hillocks’ slopes faced Alandur, many localities were marooned during monsoon owing to the massive quantity of water flow during that period. Problems originated from Bhaktavatsalam Nagar, inundated Kamaraj Odai and drained through Veerangal Odai before stagnating in residential pockets in neighbouring Ullagaram and Velachery, in addition to those within the municipality, Mr. Bharathi said.

The proposal was to “reduce rapid surface flow” and divert it to shallow areas and thereby avoiding inundation of downstream areas of the municipality, he said. Proposals include huge drains to transport water from areas around the hillocks, minor earthen dams, water treatment plants and big storage reservoirs, both overhead and ground level, Mr. Bharathi added.

N.S.Prema, Municipal Commissioner, said the DPR would comprise an exhaustive topographical survey, soil tests, suitable locations for the structures. Though named as Tirusulam Project, the entire project would be executed only within the municipality’s limits, she clarified.

N.Mahesan, Municipal Engineer, said a time-frame of four months had been set for completing the DPR, preparation of the project’s draft design and estimates for receiving the administrative sanction and the final bid document for receiving technical sanction from the government. Preparation of the DPR alone would cost Rs. 20 lakh, he added.

Mr. Bharathi recalled that a team from Asian Development Bank had already visited the site of the proposed project and expressed their interest to support it. Once completed, residents of Alandur Municipality can expect to get drinking water round the clock.

The project would also effectively prevent inundation of low-level areas that are usually affected during the monsoon. Against its requirements of 2 crore litres of drinking water a day, they received 70 lakh litres and hence many pockets could get water supply only once in three or four days.

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