The Hindu : Front Page : Work apace to tackle drinking water crisis

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, May 07, 2007
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Work apace to tackle drinking water crisis

M. Balaganessin

PUDUKOTTAI: The State Government has sanctioned Rs.13.65 crore for tackling drinking water crisis in 348 hamlets identified by the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board (TWAD) in the district.

The works are being expedited to ensure uninterrupted water supply this summer.

While five blocks and part of Pudukottai and Arimalam blocks account for hard-rock zone, five other blocks are sedimentary areas. The problem is more pronounced in two coastal blocks with seawater intrusion.

A maximum of 59 hamlets have been identified in Aranthangi block, followed by Annavasal (54), Viralimalai (48) and Tirumayam (41).

"The hard-rock zones are the worst-affected areas in the district," the Executive Engineer (Rural Water Supply), TWAD, C.V. Rajan, said.

To make matters worse, there was no rainfall during the first quarter ended March 31 this year, against the normal 65.8 mm, he said.

Each work pertained to setting up of a deep bore-well, construction of an overhead tank and providing distribution network — on an outlay of Rs.3 lakh to Rs.4 lakh in each hamlet.

The emergency programme envisages doubling the daily per capita supply from the present 20 to 40 litres.

Work on 150 bore-wells have been completed and construction of overhead tanks is under way.

The Union Minister of State for Home, S. Regupathi, inaugurated an overhead tank at Konjampatti village in Muthukaadu panchayat near Annavasal on Sunday.

He also laid the foundation for overhead tanks for Keezh Muthukaadu, Vengavayal and Master Watchman hamlets on an outlay of about Rs. 9 lakh.

To check seawater intrusion in the coastal blocks of Manamelkudi and Avudaiyarkovil, a special scheme is being implemented at an estimated cost of Rs. 46 crore.

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