Objectives of formation of TWAD Board

Adequate protected water supply and hygienic disposal of wastewater are the basic requirements for the health and well being of any community. Protected water supply and proper disposal of waste water is essential for the control of water borne diseases

As per Act 47 of the constitution, it is the duty of the states to improve the standard of living of the people and in particular to improve public health standards. On this objective on the 14th April 1971 the Government of Tamil Nadu constituted TWAD Board

Prefatory

Tamil Nadu is divided into 32 administrative districts including Chennai with the rural area spread over 93699 rural habitations in 12620 village panchayats

A Rural Habitation is defined as a locality within a village where a cluster of families reside. The total population should be 100 or more for consideration for coverage under the rural water supply norms

It is generally assumed that around 20 families reside in a habitation. Average number of persons in a family is taken as 5. In case of hilly areas, a habitation may have a population, which is less than 100

The drinking water supply to the rural people of the State is effected through surface as well as sub surface sources. The sources for most of the water supply schemes are dependent on the surface and sub surface flows of 17 major rivers flowing within the state. Ground water sources like borewells, open wells, etc. are the main sources in the rural villages

Out of the total rainfall, 47% occurs during North East Monsoon (October-December), 32% occurs during South West Monsoon (June-September) and the remaining 21% occurs sporadically during the transitional period spreading from January – May

Rural water Supply schemes are implemented based on quinquennial surveys conducted periodically. TWAD Board has conducted the surveys in the years 1976, 1985, 1992,2003, and recently in 2006. The status identified through these surveys are the basis for the provision of water supply to rural areas. TWAD Board has been implementing the water supply schemes in the rural areas with a systematic approach and has done the best in the field. Since its formation TWAD has covered vast number of habitations in the rural areas and has provided protected water supply to almost all the habitations in Tamilnadu. In fact, only Tamilnadu originated the micro level approach to the level of “habitations” was originated only by Tamilnadu in the surveys which was later adopted by the Government of India to be followed by the other states in the country

  Norms and Status of Rural Habitations

Rural Water Supply schemes were implemented as per the Guidelines of Government of India but on the basis of classification by habitations only from 1976-1977 onwards

The normal service level norms for drinking water supply to the rural population is 40 lpcd

 Coverage of rural habitations

Rural Habitations are covered through Individual Power Pump Schemes and Combined Water Supply Schemes

Funding Pattern

TWAD Board gets financial assistance for the Rural Water Supply schemes under the Minimum Needs Programme (MNP) from the Government of Tamil Nadu and from Government of India under the National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP)

 Water Supply facilities to Public Places

In rural context drinking water is to be provided to every public place, including school, anganwadi, public buildings, PRI offices, community halls, markets, temples, religious institutions, market places mela ground etc,.

Provision of water supply system in such public places will reduce the burden on individual house hold drinking water needs and will ensure self-sufficiency in public places. Provision of drinking water facilities is required to be made to cater to the need of floating population by installing street stand posts at convenient locations. Improved accessibility to drinking water facilities by the rural people will reduce drudgery among the rural women as drinking water will be available at the household level

Based on the above context, Tamil Nadu state is the first state in the entire country to have taken step to provide drinking water facilities in the following public places and Govt institutions under Special programme category

 Provision of Water Supply to Primary Health Center

Extension of pipeline from the existing near by OHT in the Habitation providing with 1,000 litre capacity masonry tank along with the tap provisions with an approximate cost of Rs. 0.20 lakh

 Provision of Water Supply to AD/ TW and BC/MBC Hostels

Providing bore well source with pipe connection arrangements to the existing tank in the roof top of the Hostel with an approximate cost of Rs. 1.00 lakh

 Provision of Water Supply to Veterinary Hospitals

 Achievements during last five years