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The Hindu
a day ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Pilot scheme to ensure round-the-clock water supply to begin in Adyar zone
Residents of Adyar zone will get round-the-clock piped water supply by the end of this year as Chennai Metrowater will soon appoint a concessionaire to implement the continuous drinking water supply. The water agency, which is now supplying 35 million litres a day (mld) of water intermittently, would provide about 50 mld of drinking water on a 24x7 basis to wards –169,170, 173,174, 178 to 180 - once the project is completed in two years. Residents would be charged according to water use, and smart water meters would be installed to measure water consumption. The ambitious project is based on the study done by Water Corporation of Odisha to improve Pallipattu and Thiruvanmiyur water distribution stations and execute the round-the-clock drinking water supply in Adyar zone on a pilot basis. It may be recalled that Metrowater had signed a memorandum of understanding with WATCO in July 2023 to implement the project in Kodambakkam and Adyar zones. Officials of the Metrowater noted that this may not be like 'Drink from Tap Mission' in Puri, Odisha. The concept is to ensure continuous, uninterrupted water supply to 64,000 households covering localities, including Adyar, Kotturpuram, Besant Nagar, Guindy, Ekkaduthangal and Taramani, through automation of operations and constant pressure pumping. Pipelines running for 377 km would be covered in the project. Residents of Adyar noted that the project would help maintain an equitable water supply in all the streets. It should also put an end to recurring issues of water mixing with sewage water in some streets. Janani Venkitesh, secretary, ROKA (Residents of Kasturba Association) said 'We get adequate water supply now and it is supplied twice a day in some areas. The pilot scheme to give 24*7 water supply is a welcome initiative to help use resources judiciously. The water agency must gather residents' feedback about effectiveness of the 24x7 metered water distribution system after its implementation.' The pilot project is one of the three schemes being taken up by Metrowater under Hybrid Annuity Model -a public private partnership model- wherein the concessionaire must improve operational efficiency and install smart infrastructure. The entire distribution network would be divided into district metered areas by installing boundary valves and flow meters. Water supply would be provided to dedicated pockets instead of combining with neighbouring areas from the same source to maintain equitable water supply, officials said. The project would use Internet of Things (IoT) technology for data collection and monitoring to reduce water loss and improve water management in the zone. The concessionaire must maintain the network for 15 years. Metrowater is already establishing a similar distribution system for uninterrupted water supply in two wards of Valasaravakkam zone.
The Hindu
21-04-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Nearly 60% of residents in Kastruba Nagar segregate waste thanks to ‘We Segregate' initiative
'We Segregate', an initiative that is being implemented at Kasturba Nagar in Chennai since 2023, has been reshaping waste segregation and recycling practices among residents. Nearly 60% of them now segregate waste and contribute to the processing of organic waste. This is owing to the project by Chennai Resilience Centre (CRC), a voluntary organisation, and Okapi Research and Advisory, along with the Residents of Kasturba Association (ROKA). Janani Venkitesh, ROKA's secretary, said residents were being encouraged to do three-way waste segregation at the household level. In October 2023, 37% of household segregated their waste. This has increased to nearly 60% now. 'We have managed to divert 7,000 kg of organic waste and 400 kg of soft plastic from reaching dump yards since 2023. On an average, about 220 kg of compost is produced every month using three community composters,' she said. Besides residents, compost is now being sourced by some farms on East Coast Road. Residents from areas, such as Kotturpuram and Velachery, evinced interest to replicate the lane composting model. Representatives of CRC and Okapi recently met Chennai South MP Thamizhachi Thangapandian and presented a report highlighting key projects and achievements. Krishna Mohan, chief resilience officer, CRC, said the MP expressed interest in several ongoing initiatives such as 'We Segregate' and 'Street Vendor Resilience Programme', which aimed to protect vendors from climate-related challenges. The collaboration and mentorship would help them scale up the ongoing initiatives and adhere better to State-level policy goals. On the collaboration, Ms. Thamizhachi said: 'I see immense potential in CRC's efforts to address the city's pressing urban challenges through community-led, sustainable solutions. I shall extend my support to strengthen CRC's collaborations with government agencies and civic bodies, ensuring that initiatives receive the institutional support they need. Our shared goal is to build a more inclusive, adaptive, and resilient Chennai, one neighbourhood at a time.' Noting that CRC was working with the Greater Chennai Corporation on the programme for street vendors, Mr. Krishna Mohan said a location had been identified near the Thiruvanmiyur beach to develop a model food vending street. This may be replicated to benefit other vendors, including those from the fishing community, through collaboration with the Chennai South MP's team.
