Athikadavu – Avanashi scheme

The survey for preparation of Detailed Project Report will include some of the areas that were left out in the initial plan for undertaking the survey.

This was decided at a review meeting undertaken by the Union Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunications, A. Raja under instructions from the Chief Minister. The meeting was attended by Highways Minister Vellakoil M.P. Saminathan, the Principal Secretary to Government for Public Works Department and PWD officials at the Secretariat.

The scheme is aimed at utilising the two tmc.ft of surplus water during floods in Bhavani. The canal that starts from Pilloor ends at Achampalayam, near Annur. The scheme will benefit lakhs of people living in Coimbatore, Tirupur and Erode districts. It was felt that places such as Agraharasamakulam, Kondayampalayam, Ellapalayam, Telugupalayam, Devampalayam and Pachapalayam were left in the survey plan and now the officials have been asked to include these places as well.

The Minister exhorted the officials to make sure that the width of the canal was adequate enough to take more water since the scheme envisages tapping the water only during the floods.

The Public Works Department has assured to provide the report on completion of the survey by March 2011. The survey done so far has indicated that the project could be implemented at an outlay of Rs. 650 crore. On getting the report, the State with the assistance from the Union Government would undertake the implementation of the scheme.