The Hindu                    23.07.2012

Water scheme for Manmangalam, 71 panchayats to be ready by January

ground zero:Transport Minister V. Senthil Balaji inspecting the progress of work on a ground level water sump at Kudukuduthanur in Karur district on Sunday. Collector V. Shobana, and Krishnarayapuram MLA S. Kamaraj, are in the picture.

The drinking water augmentation project for the benefit of Manmangalam and 71 other panchayats in Karur district will be completed and brought to public use by January next, Transport Minister V.Senthil Balaji said here on Sunday.

After inspecting the progress of works undertaken as part of the project Mr.Senthil Balaji pointed out that the State government was according priority to solving drinking water problems in all areas. Despite not being far from the Cauvery, the areas, including Manmangalam, Kathaparai, Attur Poolampalayam, Kadambankurichi, and other areas within Karur panchayat union limits were plagued by water scarcity. Once the present regime took over, it decided to accord priority to drinking water problems and sanctioned several proposals, including the stated project at a cost of Rs.2.58 crore, the Minister claimed.

While the project would cater to the present population of 24,000 in the target areas, the ultimate beneficiaries would be 29,000 in the same areas by the year 2042. The aim was to provide 40 litres per person a day in the areas. The source for the augmentation project would be the existing pumping station off River Cauvery but additional motors would be installed and additional pipelines to a length of 46.78 km would be laid to convey water to ground level sumps and overhead tanks en route. Water would be pumped into ground level sumps to be established at Rameswarapatti with a capacity of 4.50 lakh litres, Mangasolipalayam, for a capacity of 10,000 litres, and at Kudukuduthanur village where the sump with a capacity of 2.25 lakh litres were being constructed. From them water would be pumped to existing overhead tanks in target areas for domestic and public supply and all works would be completed by January 2013, Mr.Senthil Balaji said.

Mr.Senthil Balaji also inspected the progress of drinking water supply works meant to benefit Karur municipal limits and urged the officials concerned to complete the projects before April to meet summer demand next year. Several parts of Karur municipality including Thanthoni area would benefit from the scheme. The Minister inspected the construction of the overhead tank at Thinnappa Nagar as part of the project.

Collector V.Shobana, Krishnarayapuram MLA S.Kamaraj, Karur municipal chairman M.Selvaraj, TWAD Board executive engineer Sivasankaran, and Karur tahsildar Nellai Vendhan, were present .