DINDIGUL
Surplus water in the existing combined water supply schemes (CWSS) in the district and less-utilised local sources would be capitalised to augment drinking supply to water-starved areas in the district. Top priority would be given to acutely affected areas in around the city and in nearby unions, according to Collector T.G. Vinay.
Talking to The Hindu after inspecting the ₹656-crore Cauvery Combined Drinking Water scheme near Mayanur barrage in Karur district on Tuesday, he said all areas in Dindigul district were divided into three zones – green, yellow and red – on the basis of water availability, including local water source and supply source, and their actual requirement.
The areas that had excellent local source as well as TWAD supply source were brought under green zone and areas that had good supply source and not depending much on local source were under yellow zone. The areas that had high deficit and no local source nor supply source were brought under red zone, he said.
TWAD and block development officials conducted a scientific study like micro-level analysis to know the existing condition of each habitation and the actual water requirement. Several habitations around the city came under red zone. Besides, red zones were scattered in Dindigul, Natham, Nilakottai, Batlagundu and Sanarpatti unions, he said.
Mr. Vinay said top priority was given to habitations falling under red zone. Surplus water of combined drinking water schemes would be diverted to its nearest water-starved habitations. Diversion of two million litres per day (MLD) of water would suffice to cover several habitations, he added.
For example, proper utilisation of the existing storage in Athoor dam would suffice to maintain supply to Dindigul city and wayside villages during the summer. The Cauvery Drinking Water Scheme too had been supplying a large quantum of water to the city. With rapid depletion of groundwater source and no alternative water source, several habitations in the district had been facing acute water crisis, he added.
TWAD Executive Engineer R. Prabu Ram, Assistant Executive Engineers Mohammad Farook and S.P. Pichandi accompanied the Collector.
