TN to ensure water supply to 100% urban households in 5 years

For the purpose, state govt has proposed a Rs 49,918-cr investment

Tamil Nadu government has proposed to ensure 100% coverage of urban households with water supply and sewerage network services in the next four to five years besides enabling water supply at 135 lpcd.

For the five-year mission period till 2019-20, Tamil Nadu government has proposed a total investment of Rs 49,918 crore.

This includes Rs 17,086 crore in water supply schemes, Sewerage and Septage Management Rs 11,594 crore, Storm Water Drains Rs 14,690 crore, Non-motorised public transport Rs 5,172 crore and provision of parks and green spaces Rs 1,375 crore.

Tamil Nadu's State Annual Action Plan for 2015-16 will be considered for approval by an Inter-ministerial Apex Committee headed by Secretary (Urban Development) soon, according to PIB release.

State has submitted an Action Plan with a project expenditure of Rs 3,249 crore to address water supply problem in urban areas of the state under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT).

The state government has submitted annual Action Plan for 2015-16 under Atal Mission with a project expenditure to the Ministry of Urban Development.

The state government said cities are facing crucial issues of water supply in terms of insufficient source and no proper coverage of water supply connections in urban areas and accordingly has accorded priority for water supply projects in AMRUT Mission cities during 2015-16.

 

State Annual Action Plan (SAAP) is prepared by integrating city level Service Level Improvement Plans (SLIPs) of all mission cities, which are again based on detailed assessment of gaps in the availability of basic infrastructure in each city.

Under SAAP for current financial year, Tamil Nadu government has proposed water supply projects in 11 of 27 Atal Mission cities with an investment of Rs 3,147 crore accounting for 97% of total project expenditure.

Besides, Rs 34 crore investment has been proposed for providing sewerage network services in Vellankini and Rs 69 crore for developing parks and green spaces in all 27 mission cities.

Out of the total proposed project outlay of Rs 3,249 crore, the share of Centre has been estimated at Rs 1,372 crore as per the norms (one third to 50% of project costs based on population of cities) while the rest will be the share of the state government and respective urban local bodies. State government informed that it will bear 20% of project costs.

Tamil Nadu government after assessing gaps in basic infrastructure in the Mission Cities informed that only 48% of urban households in the state are having water supply connections while water supply is 81 litres per capita per day as against the norm of 135 lpcd.

Only 27% of urban households are connected to sewerage network capturing only 26% of total sewerage being generated.

Water supply in the 27 Atal Mission cities in Tamil Nadu ranged from a low of 30 litres per capita per day.

Under SAAP for 2015-16, to enhance water supply, the state government proposed a project expenditure of Rs 741 crore in Chennai, Coimbatore- Rs 452 crore, Madurai Rs 320 crore, Vellore Rs 250 crore, Rajapalayam Rs 245 crore, Erode-242 crore, Nagercoil Rs 240 crore, Tirunelveli Rs 230 crore, Tanjavur Rs 175 crore, Hosur Rs 145 crore and Ambur Rs 108 crore.

ISeven of the 12 cities of Tamil Nadu included in the Smart Cities Mission have been proposed for taking up water supply related schemes since in none of these cities, water supply is as per the norm of 135 lpcd.

These are: Chennai with present water supply of 58 lpcd, Coimbattore(58 lpcd), Vellore(60 lpcd), Erode (64 lpcd), Madurai(76 lpcd), Tanjavur(88 lpcd) and Tiruppur(110 lpcd). Rest of the smart cities will be covered in subsequent years.