From the Archives (July 8, 1969): Sub-soil water for Madras

The Tamil Nadu Government is considering taking up immediately the work on tapping the underground Courtalliar water using a system of radial collector pipes. Mr. Paul Klaus, who devised the system, himself had studied the water resources of the area and submitted a report to the Government over two years ago, on the possibilities of augmenting the City’s water supply. The Government has now taken interest in trying out the suggestions. The Government’s interest in the scheme was revived after The Hindu reported the views of Mr. Paul Klaus and also published an article on tapping sub-soil riverbed water. Messrs. Mascaranhas and Taraporewala, Consultants of the French firm, Sernes, who hold the rights over the Paul Klaus technique, at the instance of the State Government, inspected on Saturday last [July 5] several sites at Tamarapakkam, 16 miles from the City [Madras], and studied the general terrain and geological formations. They have provisionally selected one place upstream near the Tamarapakkam Anicut for the actual sinking of the radial collector pipe well. The Chief Engineer and other Engineers of the State Public Health Department and Mr. S. Krishna Aiyar of Madras had accompanied the Consultants on their inspection.