Inauguration of new water scheme for Yercaud

Municipal Administration Minister KN Nehru (second right) looking at a map of the new water scheme for Yercaud in Salem district on Sunday. , Photo Credit: E. Lakshmi Narayanan

Municipal Administration Minister KN Nehru on Sunday inaugurated a new water scheme for Yercaud residents implemented at a cost of Rs 10.77 crore.

Yercaud Panchayat Union officials said the administrative approval for the plan was issued in January last year. Work started immediately and was completed in 17 months.

Under this scheme, the residents of Yercaud, Kovilmedu, Kundur, Thepkadu, Kasikkal, Murugan Nagar, Jerinkadu and Ondikadai falling under Yercaud Panchayat Union will be benefitted. It is funded under the Jal Jeevan Mission, and the works were carried out by the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board.

Six open wells were dug near Yercaud Lake for this scheme. Water from these wells is pumped to a ground level water tank of 1.65 lakh liters capacity. After purification, water will be supplied to overhead water tanks for distribution to residents. Officials said that over 11,000 people would be benefited from the scheme.

The minister said that the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board was formed in 1971 by former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi. Conserved water and underground water drainage works are being implemented through this board.

In the past, groundwater was drawn and supplied. Now, throughout Tamil Nadu, protected drinking water is distributed through joint drinking water schemes. Providing water to the people living in Yercaud is important. He said that under the Jal Jeevan Mission, works worth Rs 18,600 crore have been carried out across the State in the last two years.