KODAIKANAL
The long-pending demands of the residents in the hill station for distribution of potable water may get solved soon.
After the Tamil Nadu Public Undertakings Committee members, headed by its chairman S. Semmalai, inspected various installations and government institutions here on Friday, told reporters that the proposals to strengthen the bund in Masonry dam and at the Manorthinam dam, the two main supply sources of drinking water to the residents in the municipal limits, would be taken up on a war-footing.
By enhancing the work, the storage level at Masonry dam can be increased. The water treatment plant, which too had not been functioning for long years, would be taken up with the government.
Likewise, the long-pending Gundar Drinking Water Project expansion works at ₹ 46.36 crore would also be taken up and completed within a time-bound period. By executing the projects, the public would get potable water without any hindrance, Mr. Semmalai said and hoped the TWAD Board and PWD engineers would keep their promises.
There were complaints that many hoteliers and private resort operators illegally pumped out water from the Kodai lake. The members discussed the modalities with the municipal officials on prevention aspects and stepping up vigil. The officials were also told to impose fines and take a stringent legal action.
When the committee members visited the Government Hospital here, some outpatients expressed concern over their experience.
There was lack of medical personnel and the absence of anaesthetist forced the in-patients to go to private hospital or to the GH in Batlagundu for performing surgeries. Likewise, the absence of CT scan too forced people to travel down the hill. However, the public expressed satisfaction over the functioning of the gynaecology ward. The authorities, it was learnt, told the panel members about the list of medical personnel to be posted, including a radiologist.
The Collector T.G. Vinay and officials from the Kodaikanal municipality were present.