The Hindu 30.10.2013
Japanese team reviews municipal water project
As a prelude to sanctioning funds, a team from the Japan International Cooperation Agency on Tuesday reviewed the drinking water project proposed by the Dindigul Municipality, and inspected Athoor dam, the main drinking water source.
The team, comprising Nakamura Yui and Mihir, held talks with Municipal Chairman V. Marudha Raj and officials at the Dindigul municipality.
Municipal officials explained to the visiting team that, in order to augment revenue, the municipality proposed to revise the levy on domestic drinking water connections from Rs.45 to Rs.150, and for non-domestic services from Rs.150 to Rs.560.
The deposit was proposed to be revised from Rs.3000 to Rs.10,000 for domestic connections, and from Rs.6000 to Rs 20,000 with respect to other connections, they added.
Ms.Nakamura asked if the public would accept such a steep revision or protest the move.
D. Rajendran, senior assistant vice-president, Tamil Nadu Urban Development Project III (TNUDP), was confident that consumers would accept the rate hike in view of the municipality’s plan to supply water daily rather than once a week as at present. The present drinking water supply stood at 14 million litres per day (MLD) – five MLD from the Athoor Kamarajar dam and nine MLD from the Cauvery Drinking Water Project – and the per capita supply was 68 litres. Water demand was projected to be 29.04 MLD in 2015, 33.03 MLD in 2030 and 37.05 MLD in 2045. Five MLD would be needed to supply water to villages covered by the project. The total demand stood at 42.05 MLD, according to officials.
Athoor dam would be deepened to improve the storage level and to tap 16.83 MLD of water. The municipality proposed to lay 227-km-long pipelines to replace the corroded pipes.
There are plans to construct overhead tanks at Saveriarpalayam, Kudaganar area, Bharathipuram and near the municipal office. A new water treatment plant is also on the anvil. The total cost of the project is Rs.70.5 crore.
A total of 30,000 service connections would be brought under the new main pumping station, officials said.
