Water special flagged off from Erode

By Our Staff Reporter

ERODE, JUNE 20. The first trainload of water from Erode for Chennai was flagged off here this morning by the District Collector, Mr. K. Balachandran. The `water special', carrying about 15 lakh litres, left at 11.40 a.m., just before `Rahu kalam'.

Following instructions from the Chief Minister, Ms. Jayalalithaa, a team of Ministers was here recently to tie up the arrangements. Authorities of local administration, TWAD Board and Metrowater, along with the Southern Railway, worked round the clock to send the train for water-starved Chennai.

Today, the flagging off of 60 wagons of raw Cauvery water, each containing 25000 litres, hauled by double electric engines, marked the launch of the special scheme to supplement drinking water to Chennai.

Mr. Balachandran said this first consignment would reach Villivakkam, Chennai within 12 hours and from there water would be pumped to Chennai, treated and supplied to the residents.

At present 180 empty wagons were kept ready for filling up water. Daily a minimum 60 wagons of water would be sent to Chennai. Within eight hours all the 60 wagons would be filled.

Water is being collected from the Cauvery. The Railways was already pumping water near the Cauvery bridge into big pipes for supply to the Erode station and the Railway colony area. Through the same pipelines water is now being filled in the wagons.

According to railway officials, the Tamil Nadu Government is paying 22 paise per litre. Already Rs. 13.50 lakhs has been remitted as advance to the Railways. The TWAD and revenue officials said despite the drawal of 1.5 million litres of water daily for Chennai from the Cauvery, supply to the Erode, Pallipalayam and nearby areas would not be affected.

A special pooja was performed before the first water special left the station.

Our Chennai Special Correspondent reports:

The Southern Railway has pressed into service four rakes of 60 tankers each for bringing water to Chennai from Erode. To start with, one rake with a capacity of 12 lakh litres will reach Chennai every day and the frequency of the operation will be increased in a phased manner.

Railway sources said all these tankers, earlier used for movement of petroleum products, were cleaned and made fit for carrying water. The Railway Board has also cleared the diversion of petrol tankers for ferrying water.

To start with, water is being loaded near the electric locomotive shed in Erode. As power supply to the OHE is to be disconnected before pumping water, it takes time to fill the wagons. It is not possible to cut off power supply to the OHE for a longer duration. So the Railways is looking for alternative arrangements to increase the loading capacity to one and a half to two rakes a day.

Meanwhile, arrangements have been made at Villivakkam to decant water. As Villivakkam is a busy main line corridor, the Railways wants to bring the water special well before dawn so that its movement will not affect normal train and EMU services.

The Railways is also ready to transport water from Mettur, where the State Government has facilities for higher capacity pumping units, the sources added.

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