Won't have shortage of drinking water this summer

Chennai: Chennaiites need not fear drinking water shortage during this summer. Chennai metro water can supply water till December, said local administration minister S.P. Velumani who reviewed the status of drinking water storage levels in all 12 municipal corporations and other municipal areas across the state.

The minister also announced that efforts were on to tap the fresh water resource from the polluted Porur lake and said that the river banks in the state are identified for future drinking water needs and emphasised that the state was looking forward for good monsoon rainfall this October.

Pointing out that the state has stored 4.24 tmc ft of water in the reservoirs supplying water to Chennai for the next three months, he said that the state government was taking all efforts to get the 8 tmc ft of Krishna water due to Chennai by co-ordinating with the neighbouring Andhra.

All the four reservoirs catering to Chennai were recently spruced up and their inlets cleared to get the storm water and this had helped the water storage. New pipes have been laid and the shutters had been replaced and repaired to prevent loss of drinking water. 

To meet the growing demands 15 new borewells will be established to tap the groundwater resource. The new borewells will come up along Kosathalayar river basin and the Neyveli plains, he said. Tapping of water from Sikkarayapuram quarries will continue and on a daily basis 30 mld of water will be tapped. As on date 650 mld of water is provided to the residents and at worse case the water supply level will be maintained around 600 mld till December. 

“We are confident of getting good monsoon rainfall from October and steps are taken up to construct new overhead tanks in rural areas to ensure supply of safe drinking water,” the minister said.