New water pipelines to ensure quality drinking water to North Chennai

Chennai:

Now residents complaining about contamination of drinking water can heave a sigh of relief as Chennai metro water is on the verge of completing the first phase of relaying 20 km of water pipeline.

A Metro water spokesman said that 19 km of pipeline has been completed to ensure quality drinking water in people living in Triplicane, Anna Nagar and North Chennai areas of Tondiarpet, Perambur and Kolathur areas.

The Rs 9.45 crore scheme was started after Chennai Metro water identified specific pockets where in pollution occurs due to damages, aging and corrosion of pipes..

He said the second phase of work on replacement of choked up water mains will be taken up after investigating and identifying pockets based on the complaints received from the public.

Meanwhile, the replacement of old sewer mains by enlarging the existing sewer mains and also replacement of new water mains for a total length of 117km under Chennai Mega City Development Mission 2011-12 has been taken up and laying of new pipe line for a length of 100km have been completed at a cost of Rs 52 crore. The balance work will be completed in January 2014.

Metro water said under Chennai Mega City Development Mission, Metro water has purchased 55 desilting machines at a cost of Rs 3 crore, 39 Jet rodding machines at a cost of Rs 14.02 crore and 13 Jetting cum suction machines at a cost of Rs.4.96 crore.

In order to avoid overflow during monsoon preventive maintenance work of desilting of sewer lines and manholes have been taken in a phased manner using these machines. 

In the first phase 66.9 km sewers and 2416 manholes have been cleaned using these machines.  In the second phase 106.36 km of sewers and 3,907 manholes have been cleaned. In the third phase 178.89 kms of sewers and 6084 manholes have been taken up for cleaning as a preventive measure.