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For the first time in many years, a local body is constructing a public well to meet the drinking water requirements of two wards.

The Pallavaram Municipality is building the well in Nemilichery, near the outlet point or ‘kalangal’ of the sprawling Nanmangalam Lake. Located on the course of the water channel, the massive well is about 100 feet deep and around 30 feet wide. It will also transport surplus water from the lake during the monsoons.

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On an average, the municipality receives only around 40 lakh litres of Palar water a day, far below their actual requirements and so they had no option but to opt for alternative sources.

Local bodies had long since given up on constructing open wells, ever since sinking deep borewells became easier and quicker.

“We already have a borewell in ward No. 18. It is more than 200 feet deep, but it yields very little water. Supply to tail-end areas in wards 18 and 22 is a big challenge, and so we decided to go in for the public well,” said P. Dhan Singh, Pallavaram MLA and a former chairman of the municipality.

Mr. Singh said engineers of the Department of Municipal Administration and Water Supply, especially those in the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage (TWAD) Board suggested that the municipality go in for a public well instead of an additional deep borewell around the lake. Subsequently, the issue was placed on the floor of the municipal council and after a nod from elected representatives, a sum of nearly Rs. 10 lakh was sanctioned for digging the well.

K.M.R. Nissar Ahmed, municipal chairman, said a full-fledged internal distribution system was already in place with individual water supply connections as well as taps on streets. There was also a proposal to construct an overhead tank to store 2 lakh litres of water and once completed, the municipality would be able to provide sufficient water to the two wards and also possibly, to neighbouring wards.

Water from the well was tested at King’s Institute in Guindy, Mr. Nissar said, adding that as it was right outside the sprawling Nanmangalam lake that was relatively free from contamination, the water was sweet and clear.

TWAD Board officials said Palar was the principal source of drinking water for several dozen rural and urban local bodies in Kancheepuram district and its current level had dipped alarmingly. Under such circumstances, creating such open wells would help local bodies in supplying drinking water to at least in a few pockets.

Source: The Hindu