The Times of India               14.12.2013

After contamination, old pipelines in Anna Nagar, Teynampet replaced

CHENNAI: The Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board, or Metrowater, has begun replacing 20km of old water pipelines with new ones in Teynampet, Anna Nagar, Perambur and Tondiarpet.

The repair work, at an estimated 10 crore, was taken up following complaints on water contamination from residents in many places. While regular tests are conducted by the agency's quality control wing, quality is also monitored by territorial area engineers along with the corporation's assistant health officers.

Detailed investigation showed that contamination had occurred in places where pipelines were old or had corroded. "So Metrowater has decided to relay 20km of main pipelines which are damaged, choked or running just below stormwater drains," said a statement.

The first phase, costing 9.45 crore, covered pipelines in Triplicane, Anna Nagar and parts of north Chennai such as Tondiarpet, Perambur and Kolathur. About 19km of pipelines have been replaced and the rest will be completed shortly.

The second phase of work, replacing choked water mains, will be taken up after further identification of problematic areas based on public complaints, said the statement.

Metrowater is also replacing 117km of sewer mains by enlarging them or replacing them under the mega city development scheme. About 100km of new pipelines were laid at an estimated 52 crore.