The Hindu                25.04.2013

Dedicated power supply for water scheme

Civic body to save on diesel expenditure.

With Mayor S.M. Velusamy switching on the dedicated power supply on Wednesday to a pumping station in the Kavundampalayam-Vadavalli Combined Drinking Water Supply Scheme, the Corporation has begun efforts to improve water supply to the two localities.

According to City Engineer in-charge K. Sugumar, the Corporation had arranged for dedicated power supply from a sub-station near the Kavundampalayam dump yard to the five-lakh-litre sump in Kavundampalayam, from where the distribution to the two localities begins.

Prior to getting the dedicated power supply, the Coimbatore Corporation spent 600 to 650 litres diesel a day to keep the motors running at the sump.

The civic body would now save on the diesel expenditure. And, not just that, it would also be able to supply more water.

He said that because of disruption in power supply, the Corporation was able to supply only around 7 million litres a day (mld) to Kavundampalayam and Vadavalli. Now it would be able to add four mld more. This would mean improved water supply to the two localities.

The Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board pumped water from River Bhavani to Veerapandi Pirivu and from there to Kavundampalayam.

At the head works near the river and Kavundampalayam, dedicated power supply was available.

At Veerapandi Pirivu, the Board still managed with diesel generators for power backup as it was not possible to go in for dedicated power supply.

The move comes ahead of the Corporation’s plans to replace pipeline in Kavundampalayam and Vadavalli to improve water supply.