Civic body plans to complete drinking water project within December
The Hindu
TIRUCHI
Construction of a pumping station on the banks of the Cauvery near Melur in Srirangam, for the new drinking water scheme for five wards of the Tiruchi Corporation, has gained momentum.
The scheme aims at supplying 135 litres of drinking water per head to the residents of 61, 62, 63, 54 and 65th wards in Tiruverumbur, Pappakurichi, Ellakudi, Keelakalkandarkottai, Alathur, Kattur and adjoining areas. The works were started in 2017 with the financial assistance of German-based KFW Development Bank.. A sum of ₹63.70 crore was allotted for the project.
In order to ensure the early completion of the project, the Tiruchi City Corporation divided the project into three packages. While the first and second packages were to construct water tanks and laying of mains and distribution pipes in the newly added areas of the Corporation. The work on the construction of a pumping station on the banks of the Cauvery was included in the third package. A footbridge across the river from the pump house up to Kambarasampettai to carry water through a main was also included in the third package.
It was said that almost all works of the first and second packages have already been completed. But the third package had been running into trouble right from the beginning. The civic body had to hold several rounds of talks to convince the farmers, who opposed the move to tap water from the Cauvery. They had objected to it stating that it would deprive them of water for farming operations. The delay in getting mandatory clearance from the Public Works Department played its part. The flow of water in the Cauvery also played its part in holding up the work.
After several months of break, the contractor, who was awarded the third package, resumed the construction of pumping station in March following the closure of the Mettur dam. A team of workers has been engaged in forming collector well as well as erecting pump sets to draw water.
P. M. N. Mujibur Rahuman, Commissioner, Tiruchi Corporation, told The Hindu that the work had been progressing well. Nearly 50% of the work had been completed. Steps had been taken to expedite the work considering the possibility of opening the Mettur Dam for irrigation in June. It had been planned to complete all works within December.
Laying of drinking water main for a length of 21.55 km and distribution pipes for a length of 211.71 km and construction of eight overhead water tanks, which were parts of the first and second packages, had already been completed, he said.
New on Amazon Prime Video this week: ‘The Boys’ Season 4, ‘Walking Dead: The One Who Live,’ and more
‘The Boys’ Season 4, ‘Walking Dead: The One Who Live,’ and ‘Mouse’ Season 1 are a few of the highlights that are coming to Prime Video this week
Following a writ petition by the victim in the case in the High Court of Karnataka questioning why the accused is yet to be arrested, the CID issued summons to the former chief minister to appear for questioning on June 12. Mr. Yediyurappa responded that he was in New Delhi and would appear for questioning on June 17. This prompted the CID to move an application seeking an arrest warrant against the former chief minister.