Rs 158 crore okayed to tackle drinking water scarcity this summer: CM Palaniswami

CHENNAI: Taking into account the inadequate rainfall Tamil Nadu has received during NE monsoon period, the state government is gearing up to tackle the possible water scarcity this summer. It has allotted Rs 158 crore to ensure the regular supply of drinking water to the people in urban and rural areas.

Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami who reviewed the situation ahead of summer, at the secretariat here on Thursday directed the officials to make sure regular supply of drinking water is maintained both in rural and urban areas this summer. Palaniswami sanctioned Rs 122 crore to Chennai Metro Water to take up appropriate drinking water supply works and another Rs 36 crore to the TWAD Board to take up drinking water supply works in the urban and rural areas of Tamil Nadu.

He instructed the district collectors to dig up new borewells, replace the damaged pipelines, rejuvenate defunct borewells and convert defunct borewells into recharge structures, on a war-footing.

The Chief Minister has instructed the Metro water, TWAD Board, rural development and MAWS departments to complete the ongoing water supply works quickly and put them to use. Monitoring officers should visit their respective districts at least three times in the month of February and ensure completion of ongoing Water Supply works and proper distribution of water. They should also check if all the streetlights are burning and ensure garbage is cleared regularly, he said.

Will get Krishna water for Chennai’s drinking water needs:  
Asserting that Chennai will not face drinking water crisis this summer, Municipal Administration Minister S.P. Velumani said efforts are on to get Krishna water for Chennai. Both the PWD and Local Administration Departments are striving to get the Krishna water from Andhra Pradesh, he added.

The government is taking all steps to fulfill the drinking water needs of Chennai.  Speaking to reporters after reviewing the Smart City project and AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation) here on Thursday he said 55 per cent of the work in establishing the Smart City project has been completed while 70 per work for AMRUT was completed.

Though Chennai ought to have received 756 mm rainfall, it had got only 343 mm, which is 54 mm less than average rainfall. Maintaining that alternate arrangements were being made to make sure the metro does not feel the pinch of scarcity Velumani said the government would face the challenge as Amma (late Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa) had boldly faced. “We have identified the sources to ensure water supply…rainwater harvesting scheme introduced by Amma will be expedited,” Velumani said.