Drinking water supply in parts of Salem has improved – from once in 15 days about five months ago to once in five days now following the completion of the first phase of a new scheme. That is an index of the kind of scarcity Salem is grappling with.
Although the iconic Mettur dam on the Cauvery river sits bang in Salem district, the city has forever been water-starved.
“Six months ago, we used to witness at least two road-rokos in a week, demanding water in the Corporation area, but now it is rare. As per norms, each person should receive 135 LPCD. As of now, every person receives 114 litres per day. Within five months, the second phase work in the new scheme would be completed and the Corporation would receive a minimum of 112 MLD and maximum of 155 MLD,” a Corporation official told Express. After the project is over, every resident would get 135 litres of water per day.
However, a few areas in Kondalampatty zone still receive water once in 15 days because they were covered under an old scheme. Steps are being taken to lay pipelines and integrate them with the new project, the official said.