The Hindu 15.09.2017
Alternate day water supply to continue in city
Water sources at Kambarasampettai have been fully recharged, say Corporation officials.Photo: M. MoorthyM_Moorthy
Until Mettur reservoir is opened for irrigation, says Corporation
Though the recent spell of rain has improved the groundwater table, especially in and around the Cauvery river, the city’s main water source, the Tiruchi Corporation has decided to enforce alternate day water supply until the Mettur reservoir is opened for irrigation.
The civic body, which was facing drinking water crisis due to unprecedented fall in its sources, resorted to alternate day water supply scheme from the second week of June. The water table had gone down badly at Kambarasampettai, where one of the Corporation’s water sources is located. To tide over the crisis, the Corporation sank more than 20 borewells to augment the water supply.
In recent months, the civic body has been facing the wrath of residents, who resorted to road rokos complaining of erratic and short supply of water. However, the current rain during the south-west monsoon has altered the situation to a great extent. According to sources, the water sources at Kambarasampettai have been fully recharged. The water table has increased appreciably due to rain and release of water in the Cauvery for drinking water purpose. All bore wells including the newly sunk ones have also been recharged.
The recharge of sources has also helped the Corporation to stabilise the water supply to its residents to an extent. Incidentally, the protests for drinking water have also come down.
However, officials are in no hurry to restore daily supply. A senior official of the Corporation told The Hindu that there had been appreciable improvement in water sources at Kambarasampettai. However, the water table at Coleroon has not improved much. It was likely to increase only when steady flow of water was maintained in the Cauvery. The restoration of daily water supply would run into trouble without complete recharge of water sources in Coleroon.
With the Mettur dam expected to be opened for irrigation soon, the official said the Corporation would review the ground situation in the first or second week of October before taking a decision on restoring daily water supply.
