In what could be a far-reaching and ambitious move, Tiruchi Corporation is considering the feasibility of extending round-the-clock drinking water supply in the city. Initially, the move is likely to be implemented on a pilot basis in select areas of the city.
As a first step in this direction, the corporation has planned to appoint a consultant to study and prepare a feasibility report on providing 24/7 water supply on international standards, corporation sources told The Hindu . The consultant would also identify the areas where the system could be implemented.
An official resolution would be tabled at the next meeting of the corporation council seeking its nod for appointing the consultant. Once the council cleared it, the proposal would be sent to the Commissioner of Municipal Administration seeking approval and identification of a suitable consultant.
ADVERTISEMENT
The move comes in the wake of the implementation of the Rs.221crore drinking water supply augmentation scheme, funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency, for the city. Once the scheme was commissioned, official sources pointed out, the city would get an additional water supply of 58 million litres a day (MLD), taking the total supply to 156 MLD.
Once the project was commissioned, the corporation would be able to provide round-the-clock supply, the sources said. But this would also entail introduction of a metering system to calculate the water consumed by the consumers. However, supply to slum localities would be subsidised. Corporation officials also made it clear that there would not be much difference in the existing water charges, but for minor differences.
ADVERTISEMENT
The system, if introduced, would help in reducing the wastage by consumers and also help in bringing down the expenditure incurred by the corporation towards pumping water.
“Under the current system, the water supplied for specified duration is often stored by consumers and a substantial quantity is used for purposes other than drinking or cooking. People often use the drinking water for washing and even gardening,” a senior corporation official pointed out.
Uniform centage charge
The corporation also plans to fix uniform centage charge for providing new household water connections under the new drinking water supply scheme. About 1.10 lakh new water connections could be provided under the new water scheme. Once the scheme was commissioned, the corporation could get additional revenue of Rs.13.20 crore a year by way of the monthly water charge of Rs.100 being collected now.
The deposit for household connections could be collected either in lumpsum or in six quarterly instalments. The corporation plans to procure the required pipes and other hardware required to provide the new connections. The issue would also come for the corporation council for its decision soon.