Urban News

The Hindu 18.03.2010

Coimbatore Corporation begins efforts to avoid water scarcity

K.V. Prasad

COIMBATORE: Indications of summer-specific austerity measures relating to drinking water supply came from the Coimbatore Corporation on Wednesday after it took stock of the situation in the Siruvani and Pilloor dams.

Mayor R. Venkatachalam, Corporation Commissioner Anshul Mishra and officials of the Corporation and the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage (TWAD) Board took part in the stock-taking meeting. The Corporation decided to provide from Thursday 1.5 lakh litres of Siruvani water in lorries to the scarcity-hit areas under the Pilloor scheme. At the same time, the Corporation also appeared to be contemplating further staggering of supply in the Siruvani-served areas also.

From the present alternate day supply, the Siruvani areas might get water only once in four days given the pressure for equitable distribution across the city and also the possibility of water level in the Siruvani Dam plunging fast because of a harsh summer.

But, such a change, that always faced the prospects of a protest, would be first discussed with the leaders of the political parties in the Corporation Council, sources in the civic body said.

The Mayor played down the option of the once-in-four-days supply by saying that a good summer shower might help the Corporation avoid it. At the same time, he also quoted Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board officials as saying at the meeting that the water position in the Siruvani Dam now suggested that 85 million litres a day could be supplied till June. But, nothing could be certain going by only the present situation.

Siruvani had a history of a quickly plunging water level when the summer turned harsher. Therefore, once-in-four days supply could be a fallback option.

“But, right now, we are starting off with 15 lorry loads (of 9,000 litres to 10,000 litres each) of Siruvani water to four wards in the eastern section in order to offset the shortage in Pilloor supply,” the Mayor said.

This would be in addition to the lorry supply that was on for years in the eastern parts of the city.

The lorry supply would be done till April 1. Another assessment of the situation would be done at that time to decide on further staggering of Siruvani supply.

The Hindu 17.03.2010

Metrowater told to deal with water contamination

K. T. Sangameswaran

CHENNAI: The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has directed the Managing Director of the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) to deal with the problem of polluted drinking water supply in various areas of Triplicane by giving top priority to it and on a war footing so that normality will be restored.

The Board should also ensure that enough drinking water was supplied through tankers so that the public did not suffer. The Managing Director should send a further report to the Commission within a week.

The SHRC also directed the Commissioner, Chennai Corporation, to keep a constant watch and take all preventive measures until normalcy returned.

The Commission Chairperson, Justice A.S.Venkatachalamoorthy passed the interim order after taking suo motu cognisance of a news report in The Hindu on March 5 that residents of Easwaradoss Street, T.P.Koil Street, Car Street, Singarachari Street and South Tank Square Street complained they were receiving sewage-mixed drinking water for over two weeks. The Commission had called for a report from the Chennai Corporation Commissioner and the CMWSSB.

In his report, the CMWSSB Managing Director said the water pollution complaint was received on February 26. Immediately, during the site inspection by officials it was found that the water quality in South Tank Square Street and T.P.Koil Street was good. However, pollution was noticed in the other three streets. Work was on to detect the source of pollution. The Board also detailed the steps taken by it, including supply of water through tankers and tanks. Water mains at Eswaradoss Street, Car Street and Singarachari Street had been isolated to identify the source of pollution. Water supply through tankers would be continued in these streets till the source of pollution was identified and rectified. The exercise is expected to be completed in 10 days.

The Corporation Commissioner said the civic body was in no way responsible for the pollution. It had also taken various preventive measures including distribution of chlorine tablets and disinfecting the area concerned.