The State government is committed to completing the Rs.1,928-crore Hogenakkal Drinking Water Scheme and Fluorosis Mitigation Project six months ahead of the deadline, Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said here on Sunday after reviewing the works.
Being implemented with funds from the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the project would serve a population of 30 lakh in Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri districts.
The 30-month implementation period would end in December 2012. But, with the focus on carrying out the works at a brisk pace, the project would be completed much ahead of the deadline as in the case of the Ramanathapuram Integrated Drinking Water Project, Mr. Stalin said.
The Hogenakkal project was being implemented in five phases. Under the first phase, main head works on the Cauvery river bed, the construction of a water treatment plant with a capacity to treat 1,600 lakh litres a day in Kullathirampatti village and two sumps of 1.2 lakh litres each in Madam village near Pennagaram costing Rs. 63.67 crore were in progress.
The construction of the treatment plant began on February 14 and the sumps on February 20. A more than 3,000 ft-long trench was being dug around the treatment plant to protect it from elephants.
The laying of pipelines, construction of overhead tanks and more sumps would be taken up in the next phases. So far, Rs. 57 crore had been spent on the project.
Earlier, Mr. Stalin inaugurated the construction of storage tanks at Ambedkar Colony in Dharmapuri and at Savalur in Nallampalli.
He also inaugurated the Rs.4.99-crore Pennagaram Drinking Water Supply Scheme near the Pennagaram Bus stand. The scheme would provide 70 litres per capita per day to 16,892 people. The Deputy Chief Minister also inspected the site for the proposed bus stand at Royakottai.
