Namakkal municipality, the first ISO 14001-2004 certified municipality in Asia for environmental management, is all set to implement the Rs. 190.40 crore Water Supply Improvement Scheme (WSIS) for residents in all the 39 wards. The town was extended by adding nine village panchayats in 2010 and the total population stood at 1,20,957 in 2011. Hence, to face the growing water needs, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa during the Collectors’ conference on December 13, 2013 announced a new water scheme for the municipality. The year 2018 was taken as base year when the expected population would be 1,33,013 with the requirement worked out at 22.18 million litres per day.
A project was prepared by Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board (TWAD Board) under Tamil Nadu Sustainable Urban Development Programme (TNSUDP) of the World Bank to supply 135 Litres per Capita per Day (LPCD) to residents in all the wards.
Raw water would be pumped from River Cauvery at Jedarpalayam Dam in Mohanur and transmitted through 700 mm diameter pipeline for 10.44 km to reach the 17.66 million litres per day (MLD) treatment plant at Kabilakkurichi. The treated water would again be transmitted to the clean water tank in Thummankurichi, which is located 25.52 km away.
From there it would be carried through feeder main to the master sump at municipal complex and distributed to the households through the distribution system.
The scheme has bulk provision for collectorate, 10 per cent provision for industries and commercial establishments and can be expanded to meet the expected population of 1.58 lakh in 2033 and 1.84 lakh in 2048. A stakeholders meeting was held at the municipality on Thursday, in which officials said that a Detailed Project Report was already submitted to World Bank for approval. After the approval, funding pattern will be worked out and tender process will be initiated. The project is expected to be commissioned in 2018.
