Drinking water crisis in the city is set to ease to a large extent soon as the much awaited trial run of Cauvery-Melur Comprehensive Water Scheme is under way.
The scheme, which was taken up at a cost of Rs.784-crore, is aimed at drawing water from the Cauvery for the city through huge pipelines and pumping stations along the route. Mayor V. V. Rajan Chellappa, along with Corporation Commissioner C. Kathiravan and City Engineer A. Mathuram, inspected the trial run and expressed satisfaction that several areas in the city would be able to receive drinking water under this scheme.
Since the civil works have been completed, the trial run is now covering extension areas such as Vilangudi, Tirunagar, Avaniapuram, Melamadai, Vandiyur, Uthangudi, Tiruppalai, Naganakulam, Kannanendal, Chinna Anuppanadi, Iravathanallur, Chinthamani, Thiagarajar Colony and Pudhukulam.
According to a press release from the corporation, the Mayor and Commissioner reviewed the trial run at Avaniapuram and Vilangudi with engineers and officials from the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board.
“The Cauvery-Melur Drinking Water Scheme will ensure uninterrupted supply to added areas. Nearly 3.5 lakh people will benefit,” Mr. Chellappa said. Under the scheme, water is drawn from the Cauvery into three huge wells at Mettumahadanapuram of Kulithalai taluk in Karur district. From the wells, water will be pumped into sumps and from there it will be pumped up to Kottaiyur on Madurai-Dindigul border. The wards which stand to benefit from the scheme are 1, 23, 59, 60, 61, 62, 94 and 98.
TWAD Board Chief Engineer Ramakrishnan, Superintending Engineer Arjunan and Executive Engineer Jayaseelan were among those present during the inspection.
