170 engineers, officials train to supply water 24x7 in households across TN

The programme aims to acquaint the officials with the latest technologies to meet the 24x7 water supply in all households across Tamil Nadu, as was mandated in former chief minister J Jayalalithaa’s Vision 2023. 

Speaking at the event, Minister for Municipal Administration and Water Supply (MAWS), SP Velumani, said that several projects for drinking water supply are under way at an estimated cost of Rs 7,450 crore under AMRUT and other schemes. 

“The programme will ensure 24x7 supply of water within a stipulated time. The workshop is based on increasing the knowledge level of the engineers and staff, to train them to become world-class,” said the minister. 

The initial part of the workshop took place in Manila, Philippines between April 16 to 20, while the second round will take place in Chennai, starting from Monday and will end on Saturday. Here, experts are expected to share the latest cutting-edge technology with the officials. 

The principal secretary of MAWS department, Harmander Singh, said that Tamil Nadu has learnt well from the past that rain water is insufficient to meet the state’s drinking water demand. 

“Last year, during the shortage of drinking water supply, we looked at quarry and lake water sources to be used after treatment. We added an additional 100 million litres per day (MLD) supply by utilising GIS to locate quarries, which can supply water even during the hottest time of summer,” he said. 

The government is also looking at ways to reuse waste water. “We have launched a study to produce 4,600 MLD of waste water through septage management schemes,” said Singh. “Two plants at Chennai are proposed at Rs 700 crore to recycle 90 MLD of waste water for industrial use, recharging of lakes and household requirements. This will reduce the pressure on the current water supply requirements,” added the official.