At last, the two-year-long deadlock between the Pallavapuram Municipality and the Water Resources Department (WRD) of the Public Works Department (PWD) over restoration of the Pallavaram Periya Eri and Keezhkattalai lake has resolved with both agreeing to restore the waterbodies jointly.
However, the cost of the restoration work has become higher than earlier.
The troubled past
In January 2015, an order was passed for the de-silting of Pallavaram Periya Eri and Keezhkattalai lake at a cost of Rs.22 crore. However, the work could not be carried out as the lakes came under the jurisdiction of WRD. The WRD refused to give no-objection certificate to the Pallavapuram Municipality to de-silt the waterbodies, which aggravated the problem of water scarcity.
The solution
Against this backdrop, the official sources have now said the work would be jointly taken up by the WRD and the Municipality with the latter preparing a Detailed Project Report (DPR) at an escalated cost.
“The detailed restoration report estimated at a cost of Rs.30 crore. For the restoration work to start, the State government must allocate an addition of Rs.8 crore,” the sources added.
“The Municipality and WRD must take up the work at the earliest once the additional funds are sanctioned. At present, the residents receive Palar water only once in twenty days. With summer approaching, the water would not be sufficient for drinking purposes,” V. Santhanam, president, Federation of Civic and Welfare Associations of Pallavapuram, said.
“The water scarcity could have been averted had the higher authorities intervened and directed the Municipality to rejuvenate the waterbodies. The groundwater level has decreased and the wells have gone dry. Residents are forced to buy can water for drinking purposes and rely on tankers for other purposes,” members of the Federation said.
