Coimbatore civic body to take over Pillur-III water supply scheme by August
Synopsis
The TWAD Board has formally kicked off the transfer of the ₹779-crore Pillur-III scheme — which supplies 178 MLD of drinking water daily — to the Coimbatore Corporation, six months after the agreed O&M period lapsed. A technical committee will assess infrastructure before the handover, expected by August, though the treatment plant stays with TWAD for another seven years.
Key Takeaways
The TWAD Board initiated the formal handover of the Pillur-III scheme to Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation (CCMC) on 7 July .
The ₹779-crore scheme, commissioned in 2024 , supplies 178 MLD of drinking water daily to parts of Coimbatore.
The transfer was delayed by nearly six months past the agreed O&M period due to election duties and administrative commitments.
Corporation Commissioner Katta Ravi Teja has proposed a technical committee to assess infrastructure before the official takeover.
The 178-MLD water treatment plant will remain under TWAD control for another seven years as per the project agreement.
The full handover is expected to be completed by August 2025 .
The Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage (TWAD) Board on Tuesday, 7 July formally initiated the handover of the operation and maintenance (O&M) of the Pillur-III drinking water supply scheme to the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation (CCMC), setting the stage for a significant shift in how one of the city's largest water infrastructure projects is managed.
About the Pillur-III Scheme
The ₹779-crore Pillur-III scheme, commissioned in 2024, currently supplies approximately 178 million litres per day (MLD) of drinking water to several parts of Coimbatore. Despite the project's completion, the TWAD Board's agreed O&M period ended nearly six months ago, and the Board has continued to bear operational costs during the interim while awaiting the formal transfer.
Why the Transfer Was Delayed
According to officials, the Coimbatore Corporation had earlier requested additional time to assume responsibility for the project, citing Assembly election-related duties and other administrative commitments. With those obligations now concluded, the TWAD Board has formally written to the corporation to commence the handover process. Officials noted that the continued delay had resulted in the Board incurring O&M expenses well beyond the originally agreed period, making the transfer increasingly urgent.
Technical Review Before Takeover
Coimbatore Corporation Commissioner Katta Ravi Teja recently inspected the facilities at the Pillur dam and has proposed forming a technical committee to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the scheme's infrastructure before the official takeover. The committee's findings will be submitted to Tamil Nadu Director of Municipal Administration Thiru. S. Sivarasu, following which approval will be sought from the Municipal Administration and Water Supply (MAWS) Department. Officials expect the full transfer to be completed by August 2025.
What CCMC Will Manage
Once the handover is complete, the Coimbatore Corporation will be responsible for the scheme's raw water and clear water pipelines, feeder mains, distribution networks, mass storage tanks (MSTs), and pumping stations equipped with four high-capacity motor pumps. Notably, the 178-MLD water treatment plant will remain under the TWAD Board's control for another seven years, as the project agreement mandates a 10-year O&M period for the treatment plant — of which approximately three years have already elapsed.
Coimbatore's Broader Water Supply Network
Coimbatore draws its drinking water from the Siruvani and Pillur reservoirs and the Aliyar dam. Water from the Pillur reservoir is distributed through the Pillur-I, Pillur-II, Pillur-III, and the Kavundampalayam-Vadavalli-Veerakeralam (KVV) Combined Water Supply Scheme. Currently, the TWAD Board manages Pillur-I and Pillur-III, while the Coimbatore Corporation already operates Pillur-II. The Pillur-III transfer will consolidate the corporation's role as the primary civic operator of the city's water distribution infrastructure.
With the technical review underway and departmental approvals pending, the transition is expected to reshape accountability for Coimbatore's daily water supply management in the months ahead.
Point of View
But it sets a poor precedent for future project handovers. The split-management model — CCMC running distribution while TWAD retains the treatment plant for seven more years — also creates a divided accountability structure that could complicate day-to-day operations and cost recovery. As Coimbatore's population and water demand grow, clearer transition timelines and pre-agreed readiness benchmarks for civic bodies should be built into project contracts from the outset.
NationPress
7 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Pillur-III water supply scheme in Coimbatore?
The Pillur-III scheme is a ₹779-crore drinking water project commissioned in 2024, supplying approximately 178 million litres per day to several parts of Coimbatore. It was built and initially operated by the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage (TWAD) Board.
Why is the Pillur-III scheme being transferred to the Coimbatore Corporation?
The TWAD Board's agreed operation and maintenance period ended nearly six months ago, and it has continued to bear costs beyond the contracted period. The transfer to the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation is now necessary to restore proper accountability and reduce the Board's financial burden.
When will the handover of Pillur-III be completed?
Officials expect the transfer process to be completed by August 2025, subject to a technical committee review and approvals from the Municipal Administration and Water Supply (MAWS) Department.
Will the water treatment plant also be handed over to the Coimbatore Corporation?
No. The 178-MLD water treatment plant will remain under the TWAD Board for another seven years, as the project agreement mandates a 10-year O&M period for the plant. Approximately three years have already elapsed since commissioning.
What infrastructure will the Coimbatore Corporation manage after the takeover?
The corporation will manage raw water and clear water pipelines, feeder mains, distribution networks, mass storage tanks, and pumping stations with four high-capacity motor pumps. The treatment plant stays with the TWAD Board until the 10-year contractual period concludes.
