To meet the drinking water needs of the city during the hot summer months ahead, the Madurai Corporation on Thursday began digging new borewells in the peripheral areas of the city.
The Corporation is going ahead with a plan to dig 500 deep borewells at various places at an estimated cost of Rs.2.7 crore.
Digging of borewells began at three places – Kochadai, Kovalan Nagar and Chinna Udaippu.
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The authorities have also identified Oomachikulam as a potential source for water.
Mayor V.V. Rajan Chellappa and Corporation Commissioner C. Kathiravan, accompanied by senior officials and engineers, visited the areas where the borewells were being dug.
Speaking on the occasion, the Mayor said steps were being taken on a war footing to meet the drinking water scarcity in the city.
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The new borewells would be able to meet the needs of all the four zones of the Corporation.
Vaigai going dry“The water level in Vaigai river was depleting due to drought conditions and the absence of rainfall. We have an action plan to ensure uninterrupted supply of drinking water in Madurai city and these 500 new borewells would add to the already existing sources,” he said.
Accordingly, the Corporation decided to dig 125 borewells with an allotted amount of Rs.67.5 lakh in each zone.
Stating that the sites for digging borewells were identified based on the groundwater availability assessment done by experts, Mr.Rajan Chellappa said the Corporation would set up water storage tanks and supply drinking water through lorries or tankers to different parts of the city.
City Engineer A. Mathuram and zone chairman Salaimuthu were among those present at the inaugural ceremony in Kochadai.