The work on underground drainage is likely to be completed by March next year and officials of the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage (TWAD) Board, which is the implementing agency, have been taking an all-out effort for the completion of the project without any further cost over-run or time over-run.
The work is executed under ‘Underground Drainage Scheme,' which is being implemented by Tamil Nadu Urban Infrastructure Development Fund (TNUIDF) at an outlay of Rs.48.16 crore, includes the State Government's grant of Rs.24.35 crore; the Municipality's share of Rs.11.76 crore, besides a loan of Rs.12.05 crore sanctioned to the Municipality.
According to TWAD officials, a good part of the work has been completed so far. Pipelines had been buried to a cumulative length of 127 km so far, against the total 159 km in the town. “We have divided the entire town in to two major zones – one to the left and the other to the right of the main streets, for ensuring expeditious execution of the project,” says the official sources.
The proposed adoption of the ‘activated sledge process' is the special feature of the scheme. Explaining its advantage, sources said that this modernised treatment technique reduced both the duration and the space needed for treatment.
The modernised technology involved just 24 hours for treatment of sewage against the conventional method with a prolonged duration ranging anywhere between eight and ten days. Separation of the sludge from the water and mixing of chlorine with the water would be some of the techniques planned to be taken up. These techniques would be more eco-friendly and expeditious, sources said.
