Pollution abatement in the rivers Cauvery, Vaigai and Tamiraparani along twelve towns viz.,Erode, Bhavani, Kumarapalayam, Pallipalayam, Trichy, Tiruchy-Srirangam, Thanjavur, Kumbakonam, Karur-Inam karur, Mayiladuthurai, Madurai and Tirunelveli were implemented with National River Conservation Directorate (NRCD) financial assistance from 1996-97. The project envisages provision of Interception & Diversion of Sewage underground sewerage systems, Sewage Treatment Plants, low cost sanitation and solid waste management. The core works have been completed by Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board in Madurai and Kumbakonam and in respect of Erode, Bhavani, Kumarapalayam, Trichy, Tiruchy-Srirangam, Thanjavur, Karur-Inam karur, Mayiladuthurai and Tirunelveli have been completed through Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board. Pallipalayam was dropped from the scope. The non core works like Low Cost Sanitation and Solid Waste Management have been completed by Local body.
Under NRCP, the sewage outfall from the towns into the rivers Cauvery, Vaigai and Tambiraparani has been intercepted, collected and treated in Sewage Treatment Plants and the treated water is let into the river.
This is a centrally sponsored scheme under NRCP at an overall project cost of Rs.380.58 crore and implemented from the year 1996-97 for abatement of pollution in the stretches of river Cauvery. A sum of Rs. Rs.334.66 crore has been spent by the implementing departments. Under Core activities Interception & Diversion and Under Ground Sewerage Scheme with sewage treatment plants have been taken up through Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board in (1) Erode, (2) Bhavani, (3) Komarapalayam, (4) Pallipalayam (5) Tiruchi (6) Thanjavur (7) Mayiladuthurai (8) Karur-Inam Karur (9) Tiruchi – Srirangam and in (10) Kumbakonam by Chennai Metro Water Supply & Sewerage Board. Under Non-Core activities, construction of low cost sanitation, crematoria and river front development have been completed by local bodies.
The core works in Madurai have been taken up at an overall project cost of Rs.165.00 crore during the year 2007. Interception & Diversion works and Pumping stations (Phase I & II) were taken up by Chennai Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board and the works have been completed. So far, a sum of Rs.114.39 crore has been spent for this work. Construction of Sewage Treatment Plant has been completed by Madurai Corporation with JNNURM funding.
The UGSS works in respect of Tirunelveli were taken up by Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board at a sanctioned cost of Rs.66.00 crore during 2001. An amount of Rs.55.55 crore was spent on this scheme and the scheme has been completed.
A project which aims for the up gradation of the sewerage system and preventing the entry of raw / partially treated sewage into the Chennai City water ways ie. Cooum, Buckingham Canal, Adyar, Otteri Nullah, Captain Cotton Canal and Mambalam drain was implemented by Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board. A sum of Rs. 491.52 crore has been sanctioned by Government of India as grant for this project and so far, a sum of Rs. 395.67 crore has been spent. The sewage is treated by constructing 4 sewage treatment plants (STPs) with a total capacity of 264 MLD of sewage. All works have been completed by Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board.
The Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, New Delhi has sanctioned Projects for revival of Ooty and Kodaikanal Lakes under National Lake Conservation (NLCP) Plan with 100% financial assistance. Environmental upgradation by bioremediation of Ooty Lake was completed by Tamil Nadu water Supply and Drainage Board and PWD during 2005.
The Government of India sanctioned Rs.1.75 crore for revival of Ooty Lake. All the works were completed by the PWD during 2005 at a cost of Rs.1.73 crore with 100% grant from Government of India.
The scheme “Revival of Kodaikanal Lake” was originally sanctioned for Rs.10.33 crore in envisaging Interception & Diversion works, Sewage Treatment Plant, Bio-remediation and Low Cost Sanitation. The work did not commence due to interim injunction granted by Hon’ble High Court for the location of Sewage Treatment Plant Site.
After the vacation of interim injunction, a revised proposal was accorded by the Government of India on 19.01.2007. Due to the another public objection for the construction of Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) at Kallaraimedu, the STP site was shifted to Shenbaganoor, which is located further distance of 3559 M from the originally proposed site.
Now Under Ground Sewerage Scheme to Kodaikanal Municipality under Eco- Restoration of Kodaikanal Lake in Dindigul District has been administratively sanctioned on 19.09.2013 for Rs 140.00 crore which includes all the items sanctioned in original proposal including the provision for common STP of 6.12 MLD and to be implemented with 50% IUDM share and 50% ULB share.
During the review meeting conducted by the Principal Secretary to Government, E&F Department with MA&WS, on 15.02.2019, it was informed that the Under Ground Sewerage Scheme (UGSS) sanctioned by the GoTN will be dropped due to the high capital cost and further Operation & Maintenance cost for the UGSS. Hence it was now proposed to take up Fecal Sludge Management (FSL) process for Kodaikanal Town. TWAD Board has also pre closed the agreement for the work of revival of Kodaikanal Lake.
A consolidated Utilisation Certificate for the work so far completed for the Revival of Kodaikanal Lake in Dindigul District (both PWD &TWAD Components) under NLCP, for the period ending 31.12.2018 has been sent to NRCD.