Chennai's water storage to last till October

Chennai: Unlike other summers when Chennaiites worry about the possibility of water shortage, this time they can heave a sigh of relief. Thanks to December floods, all four major reservoirs have a total catchment of  7,632.00 mcft and this can cater to city’s need till October. This storage is a 300 per cent increase when compared to the storage of 2,871. mcft during the corresponding period last year.

With an average increase in water levels by two to five millimetres in various areas of greater Chennai, metro water officials are also confident that private borewells in the city can cater for the  next four months.

Besides Chennai, the situation is comfortable in northern districts,  including Vellore, Cuddalore, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur and Villupuram,  that faced water shortage last March.

Vellore Collector Dr R. Nanthagopal said “The city had received more than its average amount of rainfall, Besides the abundant rainfall, we also benefit from the Cauvery Water scheme and Palar river. Therefore, there is absolutely no chance for Vellore to  face any water problem this year.”

“Last year, I bought potable water during February and found it difficult to manage my summer holidays in my native Vellore”, said S Jayabalan, a Subedar, who has returned from Rajasthan on vacation.

Thambi Narayanan, deputy director-general, Meteorological department, said there is no connection between floods and summer temperatures, “Our present weather condition is not out of the ordinary. We are expecting high temperatures only in the last two weeks of May and first two weeks of June. Any other news about it being the hottest summer is merely a rumour.”