Virudhunagar, one of the water-deficit regions of the State and the home district of former Chief Minister K. Kamaraj, has been sanctioned three combined water supply schemes that will bring Tamiraparani water to the houses in the district.
The schemes, totally costing about Rs.600 crore, will benefit 1787 rural habitations and seven town panchayats. They will cover around 12.8 lakh people initially (2012) and 15.6 lakh people ultimately (2042). The schemes, envisaging the total drawal of 56.23 million litres a day (MLD), need to be executed in two years.
The Empowered Committee, headed by Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, met on Wednesday, the day before the 107th birth anniversary of the former Chief Minister and gave its nod for the schemes. The formal orders of the government are expected shortly.
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Mr. Stalin, who holds, the portfolio of water supply too, had made an announcement in the Assembly regarding the supply of Tamiraparani water to Virudhunagar district.
Originally, water supply managers had planned to draw the required quantity from a single location but this was objected to by the Water Resources Department (WRD) of the Public Works Department (PWD). Now, the quantity will be drawn at three points as suggested by the WRD.
In the case of seven town panchayats and 395 rural habitations in Rajapalayam, Srivilliputtur, Watrap and Sivakasi unions, 18.17 MLD would be tapped near Mukkudal. In respect of 755 rural habitations in Sattur, Vembakottai, Sivakasi, Virudhunagar, Watrap, Srivilliputtur and Aruppukkotai unions, 23.72 MLD would be drawn near Seevalaperi. As for 637 rural habitations in Aruppukottai, Kariyappatti, Thiruchuli, Narikkudi and Virudhunagar unions, 14.34 MLD would be taken near Vellanadu.
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The town panchayats to be covered now are Seithur, Chettiarpatti, Mamsapuram, Sundarapandiam, W. Pudupatti, Watrap and S. Kodikulam.
The Virudhunagar district, as a whole, has seven municipalities, nine town panchayats and 1,891 rural habitations, of which six municipalities, two town panchayats and 104 rural habitations are provided water with Tamiraparani river as the source. One municipality (Rajapalayam) is getting the supply from Mudangiyar river.
On implementation of the now-proposed schemes, all the remaining local bodies will be covered and the service level will go up, officials explain.