21 Sep 2019
The public works department plans to set up a solar power plant above the main canal of the lower Bhavani project (LBP) irrigation scheme to support the Athikadavu-Avinashi drinking water supply-cum-irrigation scheme.
Under the scheme, water will be drawn from a depth of 230m from the Kalingarayan canal.
PWD will set up a solar power plant that can generate 30 MW to pump water, project director and superintending engineer of the scheme S Sivalingam told TOI. “We have been searching for a suitable place to establish the plant, which would require 120acres. The plant can be set up at any of the districts. We have shortlisted LBP main canal.”
Since the scheme’s technical committee comprises the electricity board’s Erode chief engineer, it would ease the power plant project, PWD authorities said.
Meanwhile, foundation stone laying ceremony was conducted for constructing pumping stations for the water scheme at Varappalayam in Emmampoondi panchayat of Erode district on Friday. School education minister KA Sengottaiyan, Erode collector C Kathiravan and members of the Athikadavu-Avinashi Water Scheme Struggle Committee Federation attended the event.
Six pumping stations will be established at Bhavani, Nallagoundenpalayam, Thiruvachi, Polanaickenpalayam and Emmampoondi, Sivalingam said. “We are awaiting clearance from the state environmental impact assessment authority to begin construction.”
The scheme aims to provide irrigation to drought-prone areas in Coimbatore, Tirupur and Erode districts. It will feed 32 PWD tanks, 42 panchayat union tanks and 971 ponds in Annur, Avinashi, Tirupur, Sulur, Nambiyur and Perundurai blocks.
As many as 24,468 acres of irrigable areas will be benefited by the scheme, which will also serve as a drinking water source.
The LBP scheme serves more than two lakh acres and draws water from the Bhavanisagar dam in Erode district.
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