The Times of India                18.05.2013

Civic body looks towards Cauvery for future needs

MADURAI: The city corporation council has passed a resolution to sanction works on the detailed project report (DPR) for the Cauvery drinking water scheme considering the future drinking water needs of the city.

The resolution stated that the population of the city is expected to increase from 15 lakh at present, to 30 lakh within 30 years. As per the Central Public Health and Environmental Engineering Organisation (CPHEEO) guidelines, 135 litres per person per day has to be provided and the corporation needs 203 mld and calculating the population boom, the city may need 405 mld in future. To cater to the present drinking water needs, the civic body has 115 mld from the Vaigai drinking water scheme, while another 12 mld is expected from the Cauvery drinking water scheme which is under process.

The corporation falls short of 76 mld to cater to the present requirement, which may turn into 278 mld deficit in future. Hence, the corporation has sought the Tamil Nadu Water and Drainage Board (TWAD) to prepare a project report on executing 100 mld drinking water project from the Cauvery river bed. TWAD in return had asked the city corporation to sanction Rs 2 lakh advance on DPR and resolutions on execution and approval from the commissioner of municipal administration.

Addressing the council, mayor V V Rajan Chellappa said it was a crucial project to cater the drinking water needs of the city in future and sought the councillors' approval. The AIADMK councillors supported the resolution unanimously though the 4{+t}{+h} zone chairman, P Salaimuthu insisted on aligning the pipelines in such a way that water reaches the city through gravitational force.

In addition to that, the council also discussed the present water crisis with councillors reporting area specific drinking water problems. CPM councillor M Chellam questioned whether the water level in Vaigai is sufficient to meet the needs.

Answering their queries, corporation commissioner, R Nanthagopal said that the water at Vaigai will last till June 10 by which time the rains would start. He also narrated the recent drinking water projects like establishing pumping stations at Mangalakudi, Manalur, Tiruparankundram. "We have sufficient sources for drinking water but there is shortage of non-potable water from bore wells. The recent discharge in Vaigai had helped the ground water level also and the water situation is better in the city," he said.