Urban News

Source : The Hindu Date : 24.06.2009

‘Siruvani water situation is manageable’

Staff Reporter

Photo: K. Ananthan

Drying up: Two of the three nozzles in the intake tower at the Siruvani Dam. The water level stood at 864.95 m. above mean sea level against a full level of 878.5 m. on Tuesday. —

Coimbatore: Water storage in Siruvani Dam is comfortable and it can cater to the needs of Coimbatore City and wayside habitations for the next 15 to 20 days, District Collector P. Umanath said on Tuesday.

However, there was a marginal but steady inflow because of showers every day maintaining the storage level.

Dr. Umanath was talking to reporters at Siruvani after inspecting the dam intake valves and holding discussions with the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage (TWAD) Board officials.

He was accompanied by Assistant Collector (Training) Prasanth Wadnere, Executive Engineer of Siruvani Scheme of the TWAD Board P. Gopalakrishnan and Assistant Engineer S. Samapath Kumar.

As against the full storage level of 878.5 m. above mean sea level, the reservoir had storage of 864.95 m.

According to the agreement between Tamil Nadu and Kerala, drawl of water is permitted up to 863.5 m i.e., the dead storage level.

The water available as on date was 1.5 m i.e., 5.5 ft. Dr. Umanath said the average drawl from the reservoir was somewhere between 60 to 70 million litres per day (mld).

Because of the rainfall in catchment areas and inflow through tributaries, the water level had not gone down despite withdrawal.

In spite of the withdrawal of 60 to 70 mld for the last 10 days, which brought down the storage by 10 cm every day, water level in the reservoir had not dropped, thanks to the inflow as a result of the mild showers, Dr. Umanath said.

The inflow into the reservoir from the major source Muthikulam Falls, Gopiaru, Pattiaru, Ecsar, Veeraru, Pambaru, Anai Sholayar and Siruvaniar has equalled the quantum of water withdrawn every day.

Dr. Umanath said irrigation department officials from Kerala had confirmed the arrival of monsoon in Kerala and the rainfall was expected to stabilise in and around Siruvani reservoir within 48 to 72 hours.

Given the present situation, the question of pumping the water available in the catchment areas away from the intake valve did not arise and so was the case with regard to the demands for desilting the catchments areas.

Once the monsoon sets in and the rainfall intensifies, the authorities expect the 22.7 sq. km. catchments to get filled up fast.

Dr. Umanath said 3,000 mm had been the average rainfall at Siruvani and there had been instances of 4,000 mm rainfall.

Source : The Hindu Date : 23.06.2009

Motors fitted in water connections to be seized

Staff Reporter

TIRUNELVELI: Informing that petition boxes would be kept in the zonal offices of Tirunelveli Corporation for receiving complaints regarding drinking water supply, Mayor A.L. Subramanian has announced adding that checks would be conducted to seize motors fitted in drinking water connections.

“Besides, the water connection to the erring houses or commercial establishments will be cut off immediately and legal proceedings initiated against them,” Mr. Subramanian informed at the council meeting held here on Monday.

Raising the issue of inadequate and erratic drinking water supply to the residents in various parts of the local body, Melapalayam Zone chairman S.S. Mohamed Maideen said a farmer near Melapalayam was tapping water from the main pipeline for his plantain saplings planted on over 10 acres even as the residents were running from pillar to post for drinking water.

The Assistant Executive Engineer, Melapalayam, Samuel Selvaraj said a police complaint had been given in this connection and the first information report would soon be registered.

To facilitate the filtration and increase the quantity of water being supplied by the infiltration wells, the Mayor asked the officials to initiate steps to heap sand around the wells.

Executive Engineer Narayanan Nair replied that the exercise had been suspended as the contractor identified for heaping the sand around infiltration wells failed to comply with the contract norms. “The contract has been cancelled and the contractor blacklisted. Soon the work will resume,” he assured.

Palayamkottai Zone chairman Suba. Seetharaman, councillor Revathi Ashok wanted the age-old distribution pipelines be replaced without further delay as there were frequent bursts.

The Mayor said finalization of tenders for two major drinking water projects worth Rs. 22.22 crore, for the benefit of wards 8, 9 and 10 and wards 19, 26 and 27, would be done shortly and hence these projects, designed to benefit peripheral areas, could be completed within 12 to 18 months.

“If the drinking water taken in lorries from the corporation reservoirs is sold to commercial establishments, the corporation personnel concerned will be suspended immediately. Similarly, the pumps fitted in the drinking water connections will also be seized and the people concerned will have to face legal action. I appeal to the councillors not to support these erring people,” Mr. Subramanian said.

Even before the council meeting started, a group of residents from Bharani Nagar submitted petition to the Mayor demanding regular supply of drinking water.