Tamil Nadu's Rs 3,249 cr AMRUT plan to improve water supply

NEW DELHI, November 12: Tamil Nadu government has proposed over Rs 3,200 crore action plan to address severe water supply problem in urban areas under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT). The state government has submitted annual action plan for 2015-16 under Atal Mission with a project expenditure outlay of Rs 3,249 cr to the Urban Development Ministry. In the state annual action plan (SAAP) for 2015-16 under AMRUT, the state government said, "Cities are facing crucial issues of water supply in terms of insufficient source and no proper coverage of water supply connections in urban areas and accordingly has accorded priority for water supply projects in AMRUT Mission cities during 2015-16," according to a release. SAAP is prepared by integrating city level service level improvement plans (SLIPs) of all mission cities, which are again based on detailed assessment of gaps in the availability of basic infrastructure in each city. Under SAAP for current financial year, Tamil Nadu government has proposed water supply projects in 11 of 27 Atal Mission cities with an investment of Rs 3,147 cr accounting for 97 percent of total project expenditure. Besides, Rs 34 cr investment has been proposed for providing sewerage network services in Vellankini and Rs 69 cr for developing parks and green spaces in all 27 mission cities. Out of the total proposed project outlay of Rs 3,249 cr, the share of central government has been estimated at Rs 1,372 cr as per the norms (one third to 50 percent of project costs based on population of cities) while the rest will be the share of the state government and respective urban local bodies. State government will bear 20 percent of project costs. Atal Mission seeks to ensure basic infrastructure relating to water supply and sewerage connections to all urban households, besides, ensuring water supply at 135 liters per capita per day (lpcd), as a priority. Tamil Nadu government after assessing gaps in basic infrastructure in the 'Mission Cities' informed that only 48 percent of urban households in the state are having water supply connections while water supply is 81 litres per capita per day as against the norm of 135 lpcd. Only 27 percent of urban households are connected to sewerage network capturing only 26 percent of total waste being generated. Water supply in the 27 'Atal Mission' cities in Tamil Nadu ranged from a low of 30 litres per capita per day in Pallavaram to 135 lpcd in Salem, the only city where in water supply is as per the norm of 135 lpcd prescribed for urban areas. Water supply is below 50 lpcd in Pallavaram and Avadi (48 lpcd) while it is between 51 lpcd and 100 lpcd in 18 mission cities including in Chennai where water supply is at present is 58 lpcd. Seven mission cities where in water supply is more than 100 lpcd are Tirunelveli - 101 lpcd, Tiruppur-110 lpcd, Karaikudi - 112 lpcd, Kumbakonam - 113 lpcd, Tiruvannamalai - 120 lpcd, Tiruchirapalli - 120 lpcd and Salem - 135 lpcd. Under SAAP for 2015-16, to enhance water supply, the state government proposed a project expenditure of Rs 741 cr in Chennai, Coimbattore - Rs 452 cr, Madurai - Rs 320 cr, Vellore - Rs 250 cr, Rajapalayam - Rs 245 cr, Erode - Rs 242 cr, Nagercoil - Rs 240 cr, Tirunelveli - Rs 230 cr, Tanjavur - Rs 175 cr, Hosur - Rs 145 cr and Ambur - Rs 108 cr. Investments have been prioritised as per Atal Mission guidelines which include giving priority for cities with low coverage of basic infrastructure, urban local bodies with low financial base and cities included in Smart Cities Mission. Accordingly, 7 of the 12 cities of Tamil Nadu included in the Smart Cities Mission have been proposed for taking up water supply related schemes since in none of these cities, water supply is as per the norm of 135 lpcd. These are Chennai with present water supply of 58 lpcd, Coimbattore (58 lpcd), Vellore (60 lpcd), Erode (64 lpcd), Madurai (76 lpcd), Tanjavur (88 lpcd) and Tiruppur (110 lpcd). Rest of the smart cities will be covered in subsequent years. A total of 32 corporations and municipalities in Tamil Nadu, each with a population of above one lakh have been included in Atal Mission as per Mission Guidelines. Out of these, four municipalities of Madavaram, Ambattor, Alandur and Thiruvottiyur have been merged with the Chennai Municipal Corporation while Kuruchi Municipality has been merged with Coimbattore. Atal Mission cites in Tamil Nadu account for a population of 1.37 cr as against the total population of 7.20 cr of the state. The state government has proposed to ensure 100 percent coverage of all urban households with water supply and sewerage network services in the next four to five years besides enabling water supply at the rate of 135 lpcd. For the five year Mission period till 2019-20, Tamil Nadu Government has proposed a total investment of Rs.49,918 cr. this includes Rs.17,086 cr in water supply schemes, Sewerage and Seepage Management Rs.11,594 cr, Storm Water Drains- Rs 14,690 cr, Non-motorised public transport - Rs 5,172 cr and provision of parks and green spaces- Rs 1,375 cr. Tamil Nadu's state annual action plan for 2015-16 will be considered for approval by an Inter-ministerial Apex Committee headed by Secretary (Urban Development) soon.