Added areas to get more water, thanks to Rs 550crore project

Coimbatore: The Rs 550crore project aimed at increasing the quantum of water supplied to the added areas of the city corporation is expected to be completed by 2019. Once the project is implemented, residents in Vadavalli, Veerakeralam, Kavundampalayam, Kurichi, Kuniyamuthur, Saravanampatti, Thudiyalur, Vellakinaru, Chinnavedampatti, Kalapatti and Vilankurichi will get 135ltr per person per day instead of 70ltr.
The corporation, along with the Tamil Nadu Water and Drainage Board (TWAD), has been working to provide regulated and improved water to the 11 added areas by laying new pipelines and setting up overhead tanks. The fund for the project was sanctioned by the German Development Bank and the Central government under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (Amrut) scheme.

“The average water consumption per person per day in the old corporation limit is 135ltr while only 70ltr is supplied in the added areas. With the increase in population, the demand for water has also been increased,” a corporation official said, adding that the project is designed taking into account the population in 2048.

The additional quantity of water required for the project will be drawn from Siruvani, Aliyar and Pillur reservoirs and from Pillur III scheme. The corporation has been replacing the pipelines that are lesser than 90mm in diameter.

The project is implemented in two phases. While work at Vadavalli Veerakeralam and Kavundampalayam had commenced in October 2016, work at the remaining added areas had commenced in November 2017, said an official from TWAD. Phase one of the project will be implemented at a cost of Rs 108.16crore and phase two at a cost of Rs 409.33crore.

Over 303km of new pipelines with diameter over four inches will be laid. Twelve overhead tanks of varied capacities will be constructed to improve water supply from 31.5MLD to 54.7MLD during the first phase of the project. In the second phase, 916km of pipelines will be laid and 46 overhead tanks will be set up. The quantum of water will be increased from 90.37MLD to 156.65MLD. “About 80% of phase one and 38% of phase two of the project has been completed. It would be completed by the end of February and December 2019, respectively,” the official added.

At a review meeting attended by TWAD officials and representatives from the German Development Bank on Friday, corporation commissioner K Vijayakarthikeyan directed the officials to meet the deadline.