more-in Construction of a pump house under the new drinking water scheme for the five added wards of Tiruchi Corporation in Kattur and Tiruverumbur areas is yet to begin due to delay in getting mandatory approval from the Public Works Department (Irrigation). A pump house is to be constructed at the north end of the Cauvery near Melur to tap water for the targeted beneficiaries of ?63.70 crore drinking water scheme. Construction of a collector well is part of the third package of the project. It will have three motors, including a standby, for round-the-clock operation. A footbridge will be constructed across the river from the pump house up to Kambarasampettai for laying a main to bring water. It will be connected to the mains for Kattur and Tiruverumbur areas. All works will be executed under the third package of the project. Since it is mandatory to get approval from PWD to start construction, the Corporation sent a proposal to the department soon after the State government extended administrative sanction to the project. A senior official of the Corporation told The Hindu that the proposal was under the consideration of PWD authorities in Chennai. A high-level committee would study the proposal. It was expected that the committee would soon have its meeting in Chennai shortly. “All documents for the projects have been submitted to PWD. We expect that we will get the nod within a few weeks. Work will begin immediately after the approval,” the official said. The official pointed out that there was hardly any flow in the Cauvery river. There was no possibility of opening the Mettur dam for the next four months. Hence, all works related to the pump house would have to be completed before opening the dam for irrigation. Everything was in place to start the works soon after the PWD nod. The project is aimed at supplying 135 litres of drinking water per head to the residents of 61, 62, 63, 64 and 65 wards in Tiruverumbur, Kattur and adjoining areas. At present, the Tamil Nadu Water and Drainage Board supplies about 40 litres of water per day, per head to the residents. Once the project is completed, Tiruchi Corporation will take over the responsibility of supplying drinking water to them. Three phases The project is being executed in three phases such as head works, construction of reservoirs (overhead tanks) and laying of mains and distribution lines so as to complete the works as early as possible. Construction of overhead tanks and laying of mains and distribution lines have already begun. It is said that more than 50% of the works have been completed.

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