Chief Minister M.K. Stalin inaugurated, through videoconferencing on Thursday, a drinking water scheme implemented at the cost of ₹45.10 crore for benefiting 41 rural habitations in Palayamkottai union.

After the Chief Minister inaugurated the scheme, Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker M. Appavu, District Collector R. Sukumar and Nanguneri MLA Ruby R. Manoharan opened the drinking water tap to mark the formal dedication of the scheme to the public in a function held at Palayam Chettikulam near Palayamkottai.

Mr. Appavu said six infiltration wells had been sunk in the Tamirabharani River at Thirumalaikozhunthupuram to pump the water to nine ground-level sumps from where water would be taken through 159.15 Km-long pipes to 62 overhead tanks including 18 existing overhead tanks at various places for proper distribution of water.

The drinking water project had been designed to meet the demand of the population of 50,586 persons in 2054 even though the population stands now at 33,240. Hence, the 2.60 million litres of water being supplied to 33,240 people now would be increased to 4.06 million litres a day in 2054. In other words, each beneficiary of this scheme would get 55 litres of water a day, Mr. Appavu said.

The Speaker also informed that the ₹605.75-crore drinking water project for 831 habitations in Cheranmahadevi, Kalakkad, Palayamkottai, Nanguneri, Valliyoor and Radhapuram panchayat unions and the ₹423.13-crore drinking water scheme for Kalakkad municipality, Nanguneri, Ervadi, Moolaikkaraipatti, Thirukkurunkudi, Vadakku Valliyoor, Thisaiyanvilai and Panagudi town panchayat would be completed at the earliest.

“Both the projects will be commissioned before December-end,” Mr. Appavu assured.