CHENNAI METROPOLITAN WATER SUPPLY AND SEWERAGE BOARD

 DRAFT POLICY NOTE 2007-08

        To provide safe drinking water to citizens and collection, treatment and safe disposal of the waste water is the primary responsibility of any Government.  In this direction, the Government of Tamil Nadu is taking all measures to improve the drinking water availability as well as to collect, treat and safely dispose the waste water in Chennai city and its adjacent Urban Areas.

        The Government of Tamil Nadu will continue to take all efforts to get 12 TMC of water from Krishna Water Supply Scheme and speed up the installation of Sea Water Desalination Plants to ensure water security to the people of Chennai.

WATER & WASTE WATER MANAGEMENT:

        The Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSS Board) was constituted as a statutory body in August 1978 for exclusively attending to the growing need of, and for planned development and appropriate regulation of water supply and sewerage services in the Chennai Metropolitan Area with particular reference to the protection of Public Health and for all matters connected thereto. 

         The CMWSS Board is vested with the responsibility of planning, construction, operation and maintenance of water supply and sewerage system in Chennai Metropolitan Area (CMA).  Though its operation is limited to Chennai Municipal Corporation Area in general, the Board is also extending its services to the surrounding urban local bodies (with about 7.88 sq.km. in extension areas and Manali New Town) and has already initiated measures to provide services for the entire Metropolitan Area. 

         The A Master Plan for the management of water supply and sewerage for the City, which was prepared in the year 1978, was revised in the year 1991 and updated in 1997.  Improvement and expansion works are being carried out as per the Master Plan proposals.   The implementation of Master Plan proposals has been taken up in stages.  The following is the growth profile of the Board since its formation. 

WATER SUPPLY 

*

Water Treatment Plant of 530 mld capacity at Chembarambakkam

   is under construction and will be completed during current year.

 SEWERAGE SYSTEM

STATUS OF WATER SUPPLY:

            Surface water sources such as reservoirs at Poondi, Cholavaram, Redhills, Chembarambakkam, Veeranam Lake, Rettai Eri, Porur Lake and Kandaleru Reservoir in Andhra Pradesh under Krishna Water Supply Scheme are the main sources of water supply for Chennai City and the Adjacent Urban Areas.

            Ground water from the Wellfields developed in the Araniyar - Kortaliar River Basin and Southern Coastal Acquifer and Brakish Water based Reverse Osmoasis Plants are other sources of water supply.

            During 2006-2007, water was received from Kandaleru reservoir in Andhra Pradesh under Krishna Water Supply Scheme  in two spells i.e. 2.869 TMC from 19.08.2006 to 06.11.2006 and 2.315 TMC from 14.12.2006 to 08.02.2007 and the total quantity received is 5.184 TMC.  This helped in maintaining the City Water Supply continuously at the rate of about 645 MLD even though the inflow in the rReservoirs due to the North-Eeast monsoon was not appreciable.   Further, for the first time, water received under Krishna Water Supply Scheme was conveyed to Chembarambakkam lake during January 2007. 

Daily water supply is maintained in the Chennai city and will be continued. Everyday 575 million litres of water is supplied    to the domestic consumers and another 65 to 70 million litres   to the industries and bulk consumers.  Out of 15,460 streets in the operational area of the CMWSS Board, water is supplied through pipeline in 15,155 streets.  There are nearly 130 streets where water does not reach through pipeline due to inadequate pressure inspite of availability of pipeline infrastructure.  To ensure piped water supply to these streets, distribution system improvement works will be taken up during current year and completed in next two years. This will help in equitable distribution of water.

In July 2006, there were 336 streets without water distribution mains, out of which  water mains have been  laid in 161 streets.   In the remaining 175 streets, the work is under progress and will be completed by June 2007.

Streets where water could not be supplied through pipe line network, including the streets without water supply mains, are served through tankers.  For this purpose, on an average 1300 tanker trips are made daily.  Further, for needy consumers, about 700 tanker trips are made daily on payment basis.

India Mark-II Pumps, numbering 6924, are maintained in the city to meet the water needs of residents, other than for drinking and cooking purposes.

With the available storage in the reservoirs and expected receipt of water from Krishna Water Supply Scheme,  the city water supply will be maintained daily at the current rate of supply till the onset of North East monsoon.

SEWERAGE SYSTEM:

            Collection, treatment and safe disposal of the waste water in Chennai city is one of the primary duties of CMWSS Board.  99% of the city is covered by the Under Ground Sewerage Network.  Apart from the five Zonal systems other small systems developed by the Tamil Nadu Housing Board in their neighbourhood scheme areas are also functioning and are connected to the nearest sewer mains. 

            CMWSS Board   maintains about 2663 km. length of sewer mains, 180 Pumping   Stations and Sewage Treatment Plants at 5 locations with a combined capacity of 486 MLD. In July 2006, there were 177 streets without sewer mains, out of which sewers have been laid in 70 streets.  In the remaining 107 streets, sewer laying  will be completed in the current year.

   CHEMBARAMBAKKAM WATER TREATMENT PLANT :

                      In order to treat the expected receipt of water under Krishna Water Supply Scheme, during August 1996 the Government accorded administrative sanction for the construction of a Water Treatment Plant with 530 MLD capacity at Chembarambakkam with an estimated cost of Rs.296.00 crore. The construction work is nearing completion and the laying of transmission main for conveying the treated water from the Treatment Plant to Chennai city is also in progress. It was programmed to commission the plant to supply 200 mld of water in the first Phase during September 2006.  Due to court cases on land acquisition on the alignment of the pipe line, the work was delayed. Further, due to water stagnation on the work site,  due to rains, work could not be speeded up.  The work is now completed and pre-commissioning activities of the water treatment plant have commenced.  The entire work will be completed by June 2007.

SEA WATER DESALINATION PLANT - I ( Kattupalli / Minjur)

As the present water supply sources of Chennai City are dependent on the monsoon rainfall and any failure of the monsoon adversely affects the city water supply, the CMWSS Board had proposed to set up a desalination plant on DBOOT (Design, Build, Own, Operate and Transfer) basis as a drought proofing measure.  Accordingly, a Bulk Water Purchase Agreement was executed with the company M/s. CWDL(Chennai Water  Desalination Ltd.)

 The Government in the cabinet meeting held on 16.10.2006 decided to implement the 100 mld Desalination Plant on DBOOT basis at Kattupalli near Minjur. The company obtained all clearances and achieved the Financial Close on 25.01.07. The foundation stone was laid on 25.02.2007 and preparatory  works have been commenced by the company.  The first phase of the Plant with 15 mld supply will be commissioned in June 2008.  The full capacity of the plant for 100 mld supply will be commissioned in 3 months thereafter.

 SEA WATER DESALINATION PLANT - II (at Nemmeli)

To reduce the gap between the demand and supply of water in the Chennai Metropolitan Area and to augment the water supply, the Government has proposed to construct another 100 mld Sea Water Reverse Osmosis Plant at South of Chennai with the financial assistance of the Government of India. An extent of 40.05 acres of land at Nemmeli Village on East Coast Road has been identified for this project.  Tenders for consultancy for preparation of detailed project report have been received and are under evaluation.  On selection of the consultant and finalization of the detailed project report, the work will be taken up with the financial assistance from Government of India.

24 X 7 UNINTERRUPTED  WATER SUPPLY

Though the CMWSS Board is presently supplying water on daily basis, the water is received by the public either through hand pumps or in the sumps within their premises.  Further, the water is supplied for four to six hours during normal time.  In order to ensure water at reasonable pressure at all times, CMWSS Board has initiated proposals for providing 24x7 uninterrupted water supply to Valluvarkottam Water Distribution Zone in Chennai city on an experimental basis.  The completion of this project will take 3 years duration and on completion, nearly 3,50,000 people under Valluvarkottam Water Distribution Zone will get 24x7 uninterrupted water supply.

    WATER SUPPLY TO ADJACENT LOCAL BODIES WITHIN CHENNAI METROPOLITAN AREA:

             CMWSS Board is supplying drinking water in bulk to the Urban Local Bodies adjacent to Chennai city.   For all these Local Bodies a quantity of about 27 MLD of water is supplied.   The water received from the CMWSS Board is distributed to the consumers by the respective Local Bodies.

 SEWERAGE SYSTEM  IMPROVEMENT WORKS

CHENNAI CITY RIVER CONSERVATION PROJECT (CCRCP):

The sewerage system  improvement works under CCRCP have been taken up at an estimated cost of Rs.720.15 crore with the grant of Rs.491.52 crore from the Government of India and Rs.228.63 crore from Board’s own fund.  The works were commenced during the year 2001 and have been completed.  The works included improvement to the collection system, providing interceptor sewers, construction of new Sewage Pumping Stations, improvement   to the   existing Sewage Pumping Stations and construction of 4 new Sewage Treatment Plants.

        Metrowater has proposed to take up further improvement works in the City sewerage system utilizing the savings under CCRCP. Fourteen Detailed Project Reports at an estimated cost of Rs.31.41 crore have already been prepared and submitted to National River Conservation Directorate for approval.  The areas  to be covered under   improvement to Interceptors are Indira Nagar, Napier Park, Saligramam, Padmanabha Nagar, Kalaignar Karunanidhi Nagar, Greams Road, Langs Garden, Jawahar Nagar, Melpattadai, Nammalvarpet, Vyasarpadi, Kilpauk, Ayanavaram, Dhimasamy Dharka, Perambur and Chetpet.  Area to be covered under the improvement to pumping stations are Besant Nagar, Thiruvanmiyur, North Mylapore, Foreshore Estate, Seethammal Colony, T.Nagar, Chetpet and Villivakkam Phase I.  After implementation of this project the sewerage network will be improved in the above said areas. Improvements of the capacity of the interceptors will result in reduction of sewage overflow and sewerage obstructions resulting in the  environment  protection.  

NATIONAL RIVER CONSERVATION PROJECT

 CMWSS  Board has taken up the implementation of sewerage schemes for Madurai Corporation and Kumbakonam Municipality.

1.  Madurai Corporation

 The   sewerage   scheme   for Madurai Corporation was taken up at an estimated cost of Rs.165.00 crore during February, 2001.  The collection system, construction of Sewage Pumping Stations and conveying main for six blocks under Phase-I have been completed, commissioned and handed over to Madurai Corporation.  Under Phase-II, the works of collection system, construction of Pumping Stations and conveying main at north and south of River Vaigai, at an estimated cost of Rs.70.25 crore, are under progress. At present pre commissioning for pumping stations at Pudur,Vilangudi and Pandhalkudi are under progress. All the works  will be commissioned during the   current   year. 

        Under Phase-III, two Sewage   Treatment Plants each at Avaniapuram (67 MLD) and Sakkimangalam (32 MLD) will be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs.10.15 crore during this year.  For these works the approval from the  National River Conservation Directorate have been obtained and tenders have been received and the work will be commenced shortly.

 2.  Kumbakonam Municipality

The sewerage scheme for Kumbakonam Municipality was taken up at an estimated cost of Rs.50.60 crore during April 2001.  The strengthening and the rehabilitation of the existing sewerage system has been completed under Phase–I.  Under Phase-II the work of providing sewerage system for the uncovered areas has been completed. Under Phase-III the work on construction of Sewage Treatment Plant has been commenced during December, 2006 and programmed to be completed by March 2008.

PROJECTS  UNDER JAWAHARLAL NEHRU NATIONAL URBAN RENEWAL MISSION (JNNURM)

            The Infrastructure development on water supply and sewerage system in Chennai city has been proposed to be taken up as part of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission as provided in the Memorandum of Agreement signed between the Government of India and the State Government on 17.11.2006.  In a short span of time, since signing the MoA, approval of projects to the tune of Rs.483.05 crore has been obtained.

     1)    Improvement of water supply system in Chennai City        -   Rs. 322.00 crore

2)      Providing water supply & sewerage facilities along

       I.T. Corridor.                                                             -   Rs.  41.77 crore

3)      Construction  of  additional  sewage

       treatment plant at Perungudi                                                -   Rs.  31.48 crore

4)      Conveyance of drinking water from Desalination Plant

      at Minjur to Madhavaram & Redhills for city distribution       -    Rs.  87.80 crore    

1.  Improvements to Water Supply System in Chennai city

             In Chennai city,  water is distributed through 16 water distribution systems. Under Second Chennai Project, improvements to 11 water distribution system and 7 water distribution stations have been completed with the financial assistance from World Bank and 5 water distribution stations have been completed with the financial assistance from HUDCO.  For the improvement to balance 4 water distribution stations (Kalaignar Karunanidhi Nagar, Kilpauk, Anna Poonga and Southern Head works), 5 water distribution systems (Kalaignar Karunanidhi Nagar, Kilpauk, Anna Poonga,  Southern Head works and Triplicane) and other allied works such as leak Detection and Rectification programme, reconstruction of raw water transfer conduit I & III and repairs to conduit II from Redhills to Kilpauk Water Treatment Plant, the Ministry of Urban Development has accorded approval for Rs.322 crore under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission. The revised project cost as per the revised 2006-07 Schedule of Rates is Rs.337.48 crore. The Government of India have sanctioned Rs.112.70 crore as grant and the balance amount will be met out by State Government/CMWSSB.

            During  last year's demands, it was announced that the improvement works in Kilpauk and Kalaignar Karunanidhi Nagar zones will be commenced in the year 2006-07. However the Government of India has accorded approval for all the above mentioned works. Accordingly tenders have been called for, for  all the works. On finalisation of tenders, all these works will be taken up during this year and will be completed in two years.  Completion of these improvement works will ensure equitable water distribution to the consumers of Chennai city.

           2. Providing     Water   Supply   and     Sewerage facilities to the consumers along    I.T. Corridor:

                 The Government of Tamil Nadu has declared the Old Mamallapuram Road as  IT Corridor and CMWSSB has proposed to provide both water supply  and sewerage infrastructure  in the IT Corridor. Detailed Project Reports were prepared in 7 packages for the works upto Siruseri and the Government of India has accorded approval for Rs.41.77 crore under JNNURM.  The work has been taken up and programmed to complete in the current year. The works for the remaining portion from Siruseri to Thiruporur will be taken up subsequently.

 3. Construction  of  Additional Sewage Treatment Plant at Perungudi

                                     South Chennai is witnessing rapid growth and development especially due to IT and ITES based industries and associated housing projects. The present capacity of Perungudi Treatment plant is not adequate to match the growing needs. Therefore, it is proposed to construct an additional 54 MLD capacity Sewage Treatment Plant at Perungudi.  The proposal has been approved by the Government of India under JNNURM at an estimated cost of Rs.31.48 crore by JNNURM .The work will be taken up during  the current year and   will be completed in 18 months.

 4. Conveyance of desalinated water from Desalination Plant:

             The desalinated water produced at the desalination plant at Minjur will be supplied by the Company at the plant site at Kattupalli Village.  To convey this water from the plant site at Kattupalli to Madhavaram and Redhills for further distribution to the consumers, necessary infrastructure like pipeline, under ground tank and pumping arrangements are required and the Government of India has accorded approval for Rs.87.80 crore under JNNURM.  Due to introduction of two stage pumping and Operation & Maintenance for 5 years, the project has been revised to Rs.93.00 crore. The Government of India has sanctioned Rs.70.24 crore as grant under JNNURM.  The balance amount will be met by the State Government/CMWSS Board.  Tenders have been invited for this work in two packages.  The pipeline work will be completed simultaneously along with the construction of Desalination Plant.

Improvements to the sewerage facilities in   Guindy Thiru Vi  Ka  Industrial Estate

         The longstanding request of the Guindy Thiru vi ka  Industrial Estate Manufacturer's Association  for  rehabilitating and upgrading the sewerage system  has been accepted and accordingly the project has been sanctioned at an estimated cost of Rs.6.95 crores.  The work has been commenced during December 2006 and will be completed during the current year

Under Ground Sewerage Scheme in the Adjacent Urban Local Bodies

 CMWSS Board has been appointed as a nodal agency to implement under ground sewerage schemes in the urban areas adjacent to the City.

Under Ground Sewerage Schemes have already been implemented in Alandur and Valasaravakkam Municipality and are under various stages of implementation in Ambattur(Part), Pallavaram, Thiruvottriyur and Madhavaram(Phase-I) Municipalities.  In case of Ullagaram-Puzhudivakkam, this Board has prepared the DPR and submitted to the Municipality for arranging funds under JNNURM.  Detailed Project Reports are under preparation for 6 Municipalities namely Maduravoil, Kathivakkam, Madhavaram(Phase-II), Avadi, Ambattur(Left out Area), Tambaram, Porur Town Panchayat and Ramapuram and Manapakkam Village Panchayats. For the following adjacent urbanised Local Bodies             (5 Municipalities, 17 Town Panchayats, 22 Village Panchayats and one Cantonment) CMWSS Board has invited tenders to prepare Detailed Project Report for providing Under Ground Sewerage Scheme.  On finalization of Detailed Project Report the work will be taken up in Phases under JNNURM Scheme.

 CAPACITY BUILDING:

  Human Resource Development is very essential for any organization to enable its employees to perform effectively and efficiently.  To achieve this goal CMWSS Board regularly organises training programmes for its staff members in its Training Centre.  Training is imparted in the field of Operation & Maintenance, Leakage Control, Water Conservation, Water Quality, Water Distribution, Sewage Disposal, Project Management, Financial Management, Information Technology, Billing & Collection, etc.  During the year 2006-2007, 23 courses were conducted for about 700 employees including Engineers, Administrative and Financial Staff, Technical Staff and Field Staff of CMWSS Board.  In order to expose its staff to the best practices elsewhere, the Board also deputed 90 Board officials to various training courses conducted by other training centers. 

To share its experience with others, CMWSS Board also organises training programme for the participants from other organizations and Municipalities.  Following training programmes were conducted during year 2006-2007.

1.      CENTRAL PUBLIC HEALTH ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING ORGANISATION COURSES

            Five different  training programmes  were sponsored by CPHEEO   during the year  2006-07.  127 Public Health Engineers from various parts of India participated in this training programme.  This programme will be continued in the year 2007-08 also. 

2.      TNUDP-III  TRAINING PROGRAMMES

            CMWSS Board conducted  training  for the Municipal Engineers and staff of Urban Local Bodies under TNUDP-III project.  Following  are the details of training programme organised under TNUDP-III.

3. FUTURE PROPOSALS

            CMWSS Board has entered into an agreement with the Chief Technical Adviser, Water for Asian Cities Programme-India, United Nations Human Settlements Programme, Bhopal to impart training on “Operation & Maintenance of Water and Waste Water Treatment System” for 20 Engineers of 4 Municipal Corporations of Government of Madhya Pradesh. 

PUBLIC RELATIONS AND GRIEVANCE REDRESSAL:

CMWSS Board is a consumer oriented organisation and has established a Complaint Redressal  and Information Facilitation System.

 (1)  Complaint  Redressal :

A 24 Hour Complaints Monitoring Cell is functioning in Head Office.  Complaints are also received in its 12 Area Offices and 160 Depot Offices are also receiving complaints.  Complaints received at Head Office and Area Offices are   communicated   to the field Engineers of the respective Depots  and are attended in time as stipulated in the Citizen’s Charter.

 (2)  Information & Facilitation Counters :

       Information and Facilitation Counters are functioning  at Head Office and in all  Area Offices to assist and guide the consumers on  various services rendered by the Board and also to redress their grievances.

(3)  Open House Meeting :

              In order to take the administration close to the consumers, Open House Meetings are conducted in all Area Offices between 10.00 A.M. and 1.00 P.M on 2^nd Saturday of every month.    Senior Officers, in the rank of Superintending Engineer and above, participate in these meetings. Voluntary Organisations, Consumer Action Groups, Residents Associations, Representatives of other interest Groups and individual consumers take part in these meetings and register their suggestions/grievances and  issues. The CMWSS Board is addressing the issues raised during the open house meetings then and there.

 EMPLOYEES WELFARE

Employees are the most important resource of the Board and hence the CMWSS Board gives importance to their welfare.

            In order to improve the personal hygiene among field workers, various welfare measures such as provision of Terry cotton uniform cloth with stitching charges, oil, bathing soaps, rain coats, shock proof shoes and safety gears are provided periodically.  During the year 2006-2007 an amount of Rs.77.99 lakh  has been spent for this purpose

 Special Medical Treatment for major surgeries in Private Hospitals upto Rs.1,00,000/- and reimbursement of cost of medicines and hospital stoppages are extended to the employees of the Board on par with the Government employees. The Board is also cunducting special health camps for their employees and their family members.

 E-Governance, Billing & Collection

             To facilitate the consumer to pay their water supply charges and taxes to the Board, computers and appropriate soft wares have been installed in 10 Area Offices and 60 Depots.  Since these computers have been linked to the Central Server at Head Office, the consumers can pay their dues in any of these Area Offices and Depots irrespective of the location of their property / residence.  This facility will be extended to all the remaining  Depots by June 2007.

            Further arrangements have been made to enable the consumers to pay their water supply charges and taxes to Metrowater through internet using credit cards issued by any bank.  By this facility the consumers can pay their dues  to the Board from anywhere using a computer having internet facility.