The Hindu 15.06.2012
Project reports for water supply network in city’s added areas by August
Residents of many merged areas who have to now manage
with groundwater and private water resources as they do not have a
proper water supply network, may soon get one.
Chennai
Metrowater is set to complete detailed projects reports for a
comprehensive water supply and sewerage network for the expanded city by
August.
While some municipalities such as
Valasaravakkam and Alandur, which have come under the ambit of the city,
already have the network, work is still progressing in Ambattur,
Madhavaram, Pallikaranai and Ullagaram-Puzhuthivakkam.
Metrowater
has now turned its focus on the 31 other town and village panchayats
that are counting on the water agency for better infrastructure. Though
the water agency is currently supplying 80 million litres a day (mld) to
the newly added areas, this is not sufficient to meet the needs of the
people.
R. Suganthi of Kathirvedu, said, “I rely on
water from the well and a few pots that I manage to fetch from the
street taps. It is very difficult to manage. In summer, I buy packaged
drinking water. Private tankers charge nearly Rs.1,000 for a trip.”
Detailed
reports for the projects are being prepared simultaneously under the
Chennai Mega City Development Mission. The projects are estimated to
cost about Rs.800 crore for providing water supply and Rs.1,200 crore
for the sewerage network. Areas to be supplied with water and sewerage
connections include Nolambur, Nerkundram, Manali, Puzhal, Nandambakkam,
Kottivakkam and Puzhal.
The projects envisage a
bridging of the existing inadequacies in infrastructure and improving
the health and sanitation of residents. Metrowater statistics reveal
that the demand for water in the expanded city is nearly 1,1130 mld
whereas the water agency is supplying only 830 mld.
Officials
said that 80 per cent of the water demand would work out to be sewage
generation. The water agency is taking into account parameters such as
the area’s population demand for water, local sources, existing
infrastructure and land available, in the preparation of the project
reports. Following this, Metrowater will begin identifying funding
agencies.
The schemes being formulated at present are
for a projected population in 2044. “We are aiming to cover the entire
expanded city with water and sewer connections in three years”, an
official said.
