Many innovative initiatives like replacement of existing conventional lights by LED lights and other energy efficiency measures are being taken up continuously under various schemes. Totally 4,57,609 number of  street lights of all categories are converted into LED lights at a cost of Rs.399.72 crore.

Special Infrastructure Programme

Roof Top Solar Energy                                                                             

As per the Tamil Nadu Solar Energy Policy 2012, the Government has set a target of achieving 3000MW of solar power capacity by harvesting solar energy potential in the State. This Policy envisages solar roof top system, solar water heating system, development of solar parks and so on. The total numbers of buildings owned by the ULBs were enumerated in order to erect roof top solar panels on them to produce electrical energy and use it for office requirement.

Roof top photo voltaic panels have been installed in 445 buildings of ULBs from which 2198 kwh power is being generated.

Installation Solar roof top panel in 640 buildings to harvest 2.94 MW energy are taken up to for the year 2018-19 as a first phase in Tiruchirappalli, Salem, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Tiruppur, Vellore and Thanjavur Corporations under Smart City Mission.

Ground- Mounted Solar Panel System

The Ground-Mounted Solar Panel System is to be established at an estimated cost of Rs.216.85 Crore to harvest the 40.30 MW Solar Photo Voltaic Power in Coimbatore, Tiruchirappalli, Thoothukudi, Tiruppur, Vellore,Tirunelveli,Thanjavur & Salem Corporations. At Present 12.40 MW energy is harvested in Coimbatore& Tiruppur Corporations.

Access to and provision of safe drinking water to every household in the ULB has been one of the primary concerns of the Government.  Ensuring equitable and adequate supply of safe drinking water and its effective delivery is a major challenge for the ULBs.

 To  achieve  the above primary  objective, the Government  has  initiated   various  water  supply   projects under Tamil Nadu Urban Development Project (TNUDP – III), Urban Infrastructure Governance (UIG)  and Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns  (UIDSSMT), Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission  (JnNURM), Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA)  and German Development Bank (Kfw). Attal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT),Tamil Nadu Sustainable Urban Development Project (TNSUDP).  Para-Statal agencies such as the TWAD Board and the CMWSS Board have also taken up the implementation of water supply schemes.

Apart from the Para-statal agencies, certain Corporations and Municipalities have started implementing of major water supply schemes on their own.

Norms   prescribed  by Central Public Health and Environmental Engineering  Organization  (CPHEEO)  for  drinking  water  supply  in Corporations and Municipalities covered by underground  sewerage  system is 135 Litres Per  Capita  per Day (LPCD) and 90 LPCD for non UGSS towns. The aim of the ULBs to implement the water supply schemes with the objective of achieving these norms.

    The status of water supply in Corporations and Municipalities are as detailed below:

Under implementation of several water supply schemes, the water supply increased to 1904.98 MLD and the corresponding per capita supply also increased to 126 LPCD.

Efficient Water Management System: 

          The Government accords top priority to the improvement of the Water Management Systems in Corporations and Municipalities.  The following measures are being taken:-

• Implementing modern control and monitoring systems with the provision of  Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition  System (SCADA)  to  continuously monitor  the transfer of data on water flow, performance and efficiency of pumps and motors, physical and  chemical  quality  parameters  of water,
• Replacing the inefficient motors and pumps to improve the efficiency of the pumping system in water supply.
• Revamping the existing water supply network to ensure equitable distribution of water.

District Metering Areas (DMA):

Water supply distribution is being done by dividing the supply network into number of DMA’s for the purpose of monitoring and control of Unaccounted-for-water (UFW). In general, about 500-4000 connections are considered during the formation of DMA. Each DMA area would be having a well- defined boundary with DMA meters, isolation valves on both upstream and downstream of the DMA for easy maintenance. Boundary valves are planned on the boundary of each DMA areas where pipes are interlinked. These boundary valves are generally kept in closed position and are operated only during emergency to allow flow of water from one zone to another. These DMAs shall be further divided into sub zones for periodical testing purpose with valve for monitoring and reduction of UFW as per water supply industry practice. These sub zones also help in isolating the sections during repairing of leaks or carrying out maintenance, without interrupting the total supply to the DMA.

 Rain Water Harvesting (RWH):

          The path-breaking Rain water Harvesting Programme was  launched  in 2001  under  the visionary leadership of the Hon’ble Chief Minister AMMA. The effective implementation of this scheme during 2001-2006 had reaped rich dividends  in  enhancing   ground  water  table.

          On  the  directions of the Hon’ble Chief   Minister,  necessary  amendments  were  made in the Tamil  Nadu  District Municipalities   Act,  1920, and also provisions made in the Tamil Nadu Combined Development and Building Rules 2019. As a result, rain water harvesting structures have been created throughout the State.  This  intensive  programme  had  helped  the  ground  water  table to rise  substantially  and  had  led to  better  recharge  of underground  aquifers.

          In accordance with Government policy, An action plan has been drawn by Urban Local Bodies for the Revival, Rehabilitation and Maintenance of Rain Water Harvesting structures.

Out of 45.98  lakh  buildings  in Corporations (Except Chennai)  and Municipalities, 41.38 lakh  buildings  (30366 Government  buildings and 41.09  lakh  private buildings) have  been provided  with RWH  structures.

Rain water harvesting in the water bodies vested with the ULBs have also been given major thrust.  Out of 585 Ponds, 237 have been provided with RWH structures and action is being taken to provide RWH structures in the remaining ponds and temple tanks.

 The  recharge  potential  due to the rain water  harvested  from buildings  and water  bodies  is  quite substantial.

In order to improve water bodies under Smart City funds 8 lakes in Coimbatore Corporation at an estimated cost of `  320 crore and in  Thanjavur Corporation two ponds at estimated cost of Rs.10.25 crores  and in Salem Corporation 2 Nos. at a cost of Rs.22.98 have been taken up for rejuvenation and works are in progress.

Under Kfw fund, 42 water bodies have been taken up for rejuvenation in 5 ULBs namely Pattukottai, Pudukottai, Nagapatinam, Ayiyalur and Satur at an estimated cost of Rs.38 crores  and in Erode Corporation water bodies rejuvenation taken under Kfw at an estimated cost of Rs.5.95 crores. All the works are in progress.

Under Tamil Nadu Sustainable Urban Development Programme, 2 Water bodies in Pallavapuram Municipality has been taken up for rejuvenation at an estimated cost of Rs. 14.98 crore and the works are in progress.

List of Websites for Tamil Nadu Municipality. Developed by Commissionerate of Municipal Administration. Government of Tamil Nadu.