Work on a new Cauvery drinking water project was launched on Friday at an estimated cost of Rs.636 crore to augment drinking water supply to 1,276 rural habitations in 11 panchayat unions and Natham, Nilakottai and Ammayanayakkanur town panchayats in the district. The project is scheduled to be commissioned by 2017.
Besides, bulk provisions will be made to Keeranur and Neikarapatti town panchayats and 354 rural habitations in Palani and Thoppampatti unions to improve water supply.
Under this project, water will be drawn from the Cauvery river near Mayanur barrage in Karur district. Three collector wells, that will ensure yield of 13, 21 and 10 MLD of water respectively, will be sunk on the riverbed. A collection sump at Manavasi and booster stations at Kottaikaranpatti, Gujiliamparai, Kovilur, Vadamadurai, Reddiyarchatram and Oddanchatram will be constructed. A total of 24 turbine pumps, including nine standby ones, will be commissioned at booster stations to pump water. A 219.23 km-long transmission main and feeder main pipelines and 1,282.9 km-long pipeline connecting feeder main and villages will be laid. About 153 panchayat and intermediate sumps and 117 service reservoirs will also be constructed.
When contacted, Collector N. Hariharan said the project will wipe out water crisis in villages. Rural people need not trek long distance for water. Ultimately, road picketing for water will be stopped.
Already, the TWAD Board had covered Dindigul Corporation and 1,798 villages through Palar-Porundhalar, Cauvery and Vaigai water projects. The left-out areas were included in this project, said TWAD Executive Engineer S. Ariyakani.
Each person in the villages will get 55 litres a day and those in towns will get 135 litres a day. Total demand will be 38.43 MLD in 2030 and 481.0 MLD in 2045. It will ensure 0.4 MLD to Gandhigram Rural Institute and industrial demand of 2.78 MLD.
Water will be pumped up to Oddanchatram sump under this scheme. From there, Palani and Thoppampatti unions will draw water through the existing pipelines. Cost per 1,000 litre was Rs.10.50. About 8.26 lakh people will benefit in 2015, 9.44 lakh in 2030 and 10.93 lakh in 2045, he added.
