Avadi, Tambaram corpns to get 24x7 water supply

Chennai: Avadi and Tambaram corporations are among 12 corporations and nine municipalities across the state to benefit from the proposed 24x7 water supply under the Tamil Nadu Climate Resilient Urban Development Programme (TNCRUDP).Tamil Nadu govt's 3,838 crore project, to be funded by the World Bank, is expected to be finalized within a month. It is, however, yet to get the approval of Union govt.One zone will be chosen under the project in the first phase, an official with the municipal administration and water supply department said. "Usually, when water is released for one neighbourhood, another will have to wait for its turn. So, water is provided only on alternate days in smaller corporations. We will be constructing more overhead tanks covering 500-1,000 houses each," the official said.While the 70 wards in Tambaram need nearly 73 million litres of water a day (MLD), Avadi requires 35 MLD. Tambaram deputy mayor G Kamaraj said residents were forced to book private tankers due to the alternate day supply. "If we get the approvals as scheduled, the project will begin by the end of month," he said.The overall deadline set for the entire project covering all corporations is 2030. Currently, only 17MLD is supplied in Avadi. "We have tap connections, but water doesn't come. All of Avadi, with seven lakh residents, relies only on groundwater," said T Sadagopan, a civic activist from Avadi. He said the groundwater was contaminated as septic tanks often leaked into nearby groundwater sources. "Despite grouting, the contamination happens," he said.The other local bodies which will benefit from the scheme include Salem, Tuticorin, Tiruvannamalai, Pudukottai, and Karaikudi.