Coimbatore Corporation seeks approval for taking over operations and maintenance of Siruvani water supply from TWAD Board

Coimbatore Corporation Council passes resolution to request Tamil Nadu govt to take over Siruvani water supply maintenance and operations from Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage to save revenue

The Coimbatore Corporation general council meeting presided over by Mayor Kalpana Anandakumar on Thursday passed a resolution appealing to the Tamil Nadu government to permit it to take over maintenance and operation of water distribution from the Siruvani Dam in Kerala from the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage (TWAD) Board.

Mentioning that the TWAD Board is among the efficient bodies of the State, Commissioner M. Prathap said the move is to save the Corporation’s kitty ₹3.5 crore to ₹4 crore annually.

Of the Coimbatore district’s total drinking water requirement of 265.70 MLD, 101.4 MLD is from the Siruvani Dam for 22 wards under the Corporation, 28 village panchayats and seven town panchayats.

After talks, Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) will be signed with the panchayat leaders to issue a sufficient amount of water as per Section 202 of the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation Act, 1981, he added at the meeting.

Elaborating on the mechanics of the operations that depend on gravity, Mr. Prathap said, so far, of the ₹330 crore bill issued by the TWAD Board for supply and maintenance, the Corporation paid ₹90 from the kitty this financial year and ₹240 remains.

Ward 43 councillor P. Mallika said that the civic body may move towards privatisation eventually due to lack of infrastructure or manpower crunch like water supply being handled by SUEZ India, to which the Commissioner replied, “SUEZ is the executing agency. Water tax is paid to the Corporation, which proves that the Corporation handles the supply. We won’t be pushed to privatisation.”

Of the 50 resolutions, 48 were passed, as the move to shift the ownership of a few rented indoor sports campuses and gyms in North and South Zones was deferred by the council. A total of 12 councillors were marked absent at the meeting.