Separate scheme for Pillor water phase-2
A separate scheme for the supply of Pilloor water within the city will be drawn up at Rs.70 crore. Though this scheme is part of the proposed Rs.113-crore Pilloor Phase II drinking water project, the Union Urban Development Ministry has asked the Coimabtore to pursue it as a separate one.The Corporation now has to prepare a detailed project report for city-level distribution of an additional quantum of 60 million litres a day the new scheme will provide.The first phase already provides 65 million litres a day. The new scheme is to be implemented under the ministry’s infrastructure development programme – Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission – with 50 per cent of the project cost coming as grant from the Central Government.The Corporation will spend 30 per cent and the State Government will provide an interest-free loan of 20 per cent.The separate project was announced on Friday at a special meeting of the Coimbatore Corporation Council to discuss water supply, waste management and slum development schemes.
The meeting was convened on the demands from councillors for such a meeting.Commissioner P. Muthuveeran explained that since the mission insisted on 24-hour supply of drinking water and with the Corporation planning to provide 135 litres per capita per day, the ministry wanted the Corporation to have specific focus on the internal distribution mechanism to ensure uninterrupted supply.When councillors raised the issue of staff shortage, the Commissioner and Mayor R. Venkatachalam said the State Government would soon sanction the additional staff sought for by the Corporation to implement more than 10 major schemes under the mission.The posts of a Superintending Engineer and two Executive Engineers were among the ones that were being considered.
Corporation officials explained that the existing infrastructure had the capacity to accommodate the Phase II project. They said that the tunnel had the capacity to supply 250 million litres every day. The existing scheme supplied 125 million litres, with 65 for the Coimbatore Corporation areas. The new scheme would supply 125 million litres a day, of which 60 million litres would be for the city.Asked about the money spent so far, the Commissioner said that Rs.1.25 crore was to be paid to the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board for the detailed project report. But, the board had not helped prepare a bid document. As a private consultant engaged for this should be paid Rs.5 lakh, this amount would be deducted from what should be paid to the board.
