The document summarizes the drought situation and drinking water crisis faced in Tiruchirappalli District, Tamil Nadu in 2012-2013. Due to very poor rainfall, water storage in reservoirs was low and groundwater levels dropped sharply. To address the potential drinking water shortage, the district administration implemented 3859 water supply projects worth Rs. 314 crores, utilizing various funding schemes. Measures included increasing water storage and harvesting through farm ponds, desilting tanks, check dams, and converting defunct wells into rainwater harvesting structures. A 24/7 helpline also helped resolve citizen issues promptly. The integrated measures helped avert a major crisis.

1. DRINKING WATER SUPPLY DURING DROUGHT
Jayashree Muralidharan, I.A.S.,
District Collector, Tiruchirappalli District, Tamil Nadu.

2. TIRUCHIRAPPALLI DISTRICT
• Tiruchirappalli District is
located centrally in Tamil
Nadu
• Basically an agrarian district
with industrial growth
supported by the public
sector companies like
BHEL, HAPP, OFT and
Railway workshop
• Tiruchirappalli is an
important Educational Hub
• River Cauvery flows through
the district
TAMIL NADU

3. DISTRICT MAP

4. DISTRICT PROFILE
Administrative Units
Corporation 1
Municipalities 3
Town Panchayats 16
Taluks 9
Revenue Villages 507
Blocks 14
Village Panchayats 404
Habitations 2210
Area and Population
Area (Sq. Km.) 4,403.83
Population(2011 Census) 27,22,290
Male Population 13,52,284
Female Population 13,70,006
Rural Population 13,84,257
Urban Population 13,38,033
Density (Sq. Km.) 549
Literates 20,38,981

5. River Cauvery and River Kollidam are the main sources
for drinking water in the delta areas. However, ground
water is the major source for the other parts of the
district
Average rainfall is 761.50 mm. During 2012, rain fall was
only 578 mm and it was the worst year in the last 10
years
In the normal course, Mettur Dam (Cauvery Water) is
released from 12th June to 28th January of succeeding
year – 8 months
Due to very poor rainfall in the catchment areas, Mettur
Dam was opened only on 17th Sep 2012 and closed again
on 22nd December 2012 – 3 months
CAUVERY RIVER – STILL DRINKING WATER PROBLEM ?

6. 0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
Avg.
Rain
fall
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
upto
July
761.50
906.29
1311.63
689.62
751.07
1074.82
653.99
893.11
764.23
578.16
65.92
Average Rain fall in mm Rain fall in mm
TIRUCHIRAPPALLI DISTRICT RAIN FALL (in mm)

7. Very poor rainfall coupled with parched
Cauvery, resulted in a drought situation since
January, 2013
Drinking Water scarcity loomed large in 10 out of 14
Blocks
There was a sharp drop in water table throughout
the district as indicated by the table. In
Thathaiyangar Pettai Block, the water table
dropped from 430 feet to 820 feet during the
current year

8. DISTRICT AVERAGE BORE WELL DEPTH (in feet)
Block Category
Average Depth of the
Bore Wells
During 2012-13
(Drought year)
Depth of the
Bore Wells
Manapparai OVER-EXPLOITED ( > 100 % ) 395 495
Vaiyampatti OVER-EXPLOITED ( > 100 % ) 365 525
Musiri OVER-EXPLOITED ( > 100 % ) 365 625
Thathayangarpet OVER-EXPLOITED ( > 100 % ) 430 820
Thottiyam OVER-EXPLOITED ( > 100 % ) 395 560
Manikandam OVER-EXPLOITED ( > 100 % ) 295 430
Thuraiyur OVER-EXPLOITED ( > 100 % ) 365 590
Uppiliyapuram OVER-EXPLOITED ( > 100 % ) 395 590
Mannachanallur OVER-EXPLOITED ( > 100 % ) 365 495
Andanallur SAFE (70%) 230 295
Thiruverumbur SAFE (70%) 295 430
Pullambadi SAFE (70%) 230 460
Marungapuri SEMI-CRITICAL ( 70-90%) 395 590
Lalgudi SEMI-CRITICAL ( 70-90%) 230 365
District Average Bore well Depth in Feet 340 520

9. 0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
395
365 365
430
395
295
365
395
365
230
295
230
395
230
495
525
625
820
560
430
590 590
495
295
430
460
590
365
DISTRICT AVERAGE BORE WELL DEPTH (in feet)

10. ANTICIPATING THE PROBLEM - ADVANCE ACTION
The District Administration rose to the occasion and
formulated a multi-pronged strategy , to avert the drinking
water crisis
Ban on taking up any work other than then drinking water
supply by the Village Panchayats, Panchayat
Unions, District Panchayat, Town Panchayats and
Municipalities was imposed since August, 2012 and
enforced very strictly
Dovetailing funds from all schemes towards drinking water
supply helped us to a great extent, without much external
funding
Motivating the stakeholders, especially the elected
representatives , to cooperate in the effort

11. WATER SUPPLY WORKS IMPLEMENTED IN
TIRUCHIRAPPALLI DISTRICT
Agency
2011-12 & 2012-13
PHYSICAL
FINANCIAL
(Rs. In Lakhs)
Tiruchirappalli City Corporation 177 23681.21
Village Panchayats 2759 3898.96
Municipality and Town Panchyats 254 478.42
Tamil Nadu Water Supply and
Drainage Board
669 3346.10
TOTAL 3859 31404.69

12. DOVETAILED FUNDS FROM VARIOUS SCHEMES
Funding Source / Scheme
2011-12 & 2012-13
PHYSICAL
FINANCIAL
(Rs. In Lakhs)
General Fund 2108 3329.32
Water Supply Fund 761 25390.96
THAI 440 710.40
MLACDS 185 356.66
MPLADS 70 112.73
CSIDS 8 11.60
SSS 11 43.50
IGFF 59 104.30
SUB TOTAL 3642 30059.47
EXTERNAL FUND
Integrated Urban Development Mission
(IUDM)
8 505.00
Drought Relief Fund 209 840.22
SUB TOTAL 217 1345.22
GRAND TOTAL 3859 31404.69

13. WATER SUPPLY WORKS
Deep Bore well in Cauvery River

14. Filling up water in PVC tank for public supply through lorries
Ward 28 – Ariyamangalam

15. 3859 works were taken up at a total cost of
Rs.314.05 Crores to ensure adequate water supply in the
district. (Of this 3682 works at a cost of 77.22 crores was taken
up in the rural areas)
In Tirurchirappalli City Corporation
 149 HDPE tanks were provided in various locations
 10 lakh litres of drinking water supplied through 84 lorry
trips daily
 5 diesel Gensets were purchased for continuous pumping
even at the time of power cut.

16. Water supply through HDPE Tank WARD 30 – GOLDENROCK
WATER SUPPLY WORKS

17. GENSET FOR PUMPING WATER DURING POWER CUT - PONMALAIPATTI
WATER SUPPLY WORKS

18. OHT MINI POWER PUMP INDIA MARK-II
HAND PUMP
RURAL WATER SUPPLY WORKS

19. OHT TANK,
SEKKANAM PANCHAYAT,
VAIYAMPATTI UNION
MINI POWER PUMP
AYYAMPALAYAM PANCHAYAT,
MUSIRI UNION
WATER SUPPLY WORKS

20. Podhavur Panchayat, Manikandam Union
New Hand Pump
Mini Power Pump

21. WATER SUPPLY HELP LINE – 1077 (TOLL FREE )
The District Administration setup a 24 X 7 toll free Water supply
Helpline 1077 to redress the water woes of the public
Control Rooms were commissioned in the Collectorate and in all
the local bodies
Any person from rural or urban area could inform 1077, through
mobile or landline. Complaints were registered online and a
complaint number was given
The problem was conveyed to the area officer concerned
immediately through wireless
The official concerned had to attend to the complaint and give
compliance within 24 hours
This was cross checked with the complainant and only after 100%
redressal, the complaint was logged as closed

22. QUICK REDRESSAL

23. HELP LINE – 1077 (TOLL FREE )...
1077 – Awareness created through News Paper

24. Location
No. of Complaints
Received
No. of Complaints
Rectified
Tiruchirappalli City Corporation 902 902
Village Panchayats 205 205
Municipalities 14 14
Town Panchayats 10 10
Total 1131 1131
Of the total No. of 1131 Complaints received, all
were attended and water supply
effected/restored within 24 hours.

26. To improve the water table which had gone
down steeply, a massive farm pond scheme was
implemented through MNREGS
A total of 1458 farm ponds were constructed at
a cost of Rs.763.90 lakhs to provide adequate
moisture to the parched soil and to stabilize the
water table
723 tanks and 651 channels were desilted at a
cost of Rs. 9852.16 lakhs
114 check dams were built at a cost of
Rs. 444.75 lakhs, through the Agriculture
Department

27. RAIN WATER HARVESTING STRUCTURE
Farm pond at Perugamani in Andanallur Union

28. RAIN WATER HARVESTING STRUCTURE …
Farm pond at Thiruparaithurai Panchayat

29. Check dam in Thathaiyangar Pettai
RAIN WATER HARVESTING STRUCTURE …

30. Check dam in Thottiyam
RAIN WATER HARVESTING STRUCTURE …

31. Thuvakudi Municipality - Rain Water Harvesting Pond
RAIN WATER HARVESTING STRUCTURE …

32. Based on the past
experience on Rain Water
Harvesting in 2003 under
the leadership of the
Hon’ble Chief Minister of
Tamil Nadu, all Government
Buildings including Housing
Schemes have been
provided with Rain Water
Harvesting Structure

33. RAIN WATER HARVESTING STRUCTURE IN CHIEF MINISTER’S
SOLAR POWERED GREEN HOUSE SCHEME – 2012 - 13
Mrs. Yashmin Beevi w/o Abdul Hameed, Ariyaur Panchayat

34. Community wells, a traditional source of drinking
water, are not maintained and are in a dilapidated
condition in most villages
460 defunct community wells were converted into
Rain Water Harvesting structures and are being put
to use
Similarly, defunct bore wells, were converted into
rain water harvesting structures, so as to recharge
and put them to use
Conversion of Defunct community wells / bore
wells into Rain Water Harvesting Structures

35. BEFORE DURING
The defunct Community well at Kamalapuram Panchayat in Thottiyam Union
AFTER
RAIN WATER HARVESTING STRUCTURE …

36. BEFORE EXECUTION
The defunct Community well at Manakkal Panchayat, Lalgudi Union
AFTER EXECUTION
RAIN WATER HARVESTING STRUCTURE …

37. The defunct Panchayat Union well is being recharged by RWH structure
with roof top rain water at Thottiyam Block office
RAIN WATER HARVESTING STRUCTURE …

38. Srinivasanallur Panchayat, Thottiyam Union
RWH structure of a defunct bore well
RAIN WATER HARVESTING STRUCTURE …

39. Integrated and holistic plan formulated by the district
administration, anticipating the water crisis, coupled
with expeditious implementation involving all the
stakeholders, helped in overcoming the crisis
Law and order problems including road rokos, were
averted
Appreciation from the public and in particular by the
Government for the effective tackling of drinking water
crisis

44. WATER SUPPLY WORKS IMPLEMENTED BY
TIRUCHIRAPPALLI CITY CORPORATION
Funding Source / Scheme
2011-12 & 2012-13
PHYSICAL
FINANCIAL
(Rs. In Lakhs)
General Fund 139 869.96
Integrated Urban
Development Mission (IUDM)
6 325.00
Drought Relief Fund 25 344.25
Water Supply Improvement
Scheme (WSIS)
7 22142.00
TOTAL 177 23681.21

45. WATER SUPPLY WORKS IMPLEMENTED BY
RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
Funding Source / Scheme
2011-12 & 2012-13
PHYSICAL
FINANCIAL
(Rs. In Lakhs)
General Funds- Village Pts. 1117 1360.79
General Funds- Block Pts. 685 914.21
THAI 440 710.40
MLACDS 185 356.66
MPLADS 70 112.73
CSIDS 8 11.60
SSS 11 43.50
Drought Relief Fund 156 249.77
NRDWP 28 35.00
IGFF 59 104.30
TOTAL 2759 3898.96

46. WATER SUPPLY WORKS IMPLEMENTED BY
MUNICIPALITIES AND TOWN PANCHAYATS
Funding Source / Scheme
2011-12 & 2012-13
PHYSICAL
FINANCIAL
(Rs. In Lakhs)
General Fund 167 184.36
Drought Relief Fund 13 22.20
Water Supply Funds 72 91.86
Integrated Urban
Development Mission (IUDM)
2 180.00
TOTAL 254 478.42

47. WATER SUPPLY WORKS IMPLEMENTED BY
TWAD BOARD
Name of Scheme
2011-12 & 2012-13
PHYSICAL
FINANCIAL
(Rs. In Lakhs)
IPP (Regular) 370 1473.20
Special Approval 46 42.35
Special Programme 235 1370.26
CWSS 3 236.29
Drought Relief works 15 224.00
TOTAL 669 3346.10

48. WATER SUPPLY WORKS IMPLEMENTED BY
AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT
Name of the Scheme
2011-12 & 2012-13
PHYSICAL
FINANCIAL
(Rs. In Lakhs)
Formation of Percolation Pond 96 38.40
Formation of Cattle Pond 52 52.00
Formation of Farm Pond 115 46.00
Formation of Village Pond 91 136.50
Formation of Sunken Pond 244 61.00
Construction of Checkdam 78 78.00
Construction of Surplus Weir 40 10.00
Tank / Pond Renovation 18 18.00
Channel Renovation 82 21.60
TOTAL 816 461.50

49. WATER LEVEL MONITORING FROM OBSERVATION WELLS (in feet)
Block Category
Average water Level
Depth
During 2012-13
(Drought year)
level of water Depth
Manapparai OVER-EXPLOITED ( > 100 % ) 13.45 54.69
Vaiyampatti OVER-EXPLOITED ( > 100 % ) 8.42 47.56
Musiri OVER-EXPLOITED ( > 100 % ) 18.04 63.96
Thathayangarpet OVER-EXPLOITED ( > 100 % ) 37.88 99.49
Thottiyam OVER-EXPLOITED ( > 100 % ) 13.78 41.33
Manikandam OVER-EXPLOITED ( > 100 % ) 12.46 49.75
Thuraiyur OVER-EXPLOITED ( > 100 % ) 20.12 65.82
Uppiliyapuram OVER-EXPLOITED ( > 100 % ) 21.21 87.36
Mannachanallur OVER-EXPLOITED ( > 100 % ) 25.04 59.7
Andanallur SAFE (70%) 3.5 19.79
Thiruverumbur SAFE (70%) 4.37 25.58
Pullambadi SAFE (70%) 13.12 35.83
Marungapuri SEMI-CRITICAL ( 70-90%) 7.05 43.79
Lalgudi SEMI-CRITICAL ( 70-90%) 2.51 23.83
District Average Water level in Feet 14.35 51.32

50. 0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
13.45
8.42
18.04
37.88
13.78 12.46
20.12 21.21
25.04
3.5 4.37
13.12
7.05
2.51
54.69
47.56
63.96
99.49
41.33
49.75
65.82
87.36
59.7
19.79
25.58
35.83
43.79
23.83
TIRUCHIRAPPALLI DISTRICT
WATER LEVEL MONITORING DATA - OBSERVATION WELLS (in feet)

51. RAIN WATER HARVESTING STRUCTURE IN CHIEF MINISTER’S
SOLAR POWERED GREEN HOUSE SCHEME – 2012 - 13
Mrs. Chandra w/o Somasundaram, Kodiyalam Panchayat

52. Farm pond at Pettavaithalai in Andanallur Union
RAIN WATER HARVESTING STRUCTURE …

53. PER CAPITA WATER SUPPLY
Area
Quantity of Water Supplied (LPCD)
December
2012
February
2013
April
2013
August
2013 Water
supply restored
Rural Panchayats 40.00 20.00 30.00 40.00
Corporation 110.00 60.00 70.00 110.00
Municipalities 82.00 35.00 54.00 82.00

54. PER CAPITA WATER SUPPLY
Area
Quantity of Water Supplied (LPCD)
December 2012 January 2013
Rural Panchayats 40.00 20.00
Corporation 110.00 60.00
Municipalities 82.00 35.00