The water supply in Chennai has not been affected even though the Krishna water is cut
Posted on: 13/Apr/2018 9:51:09 AM
It is known that the state of Andhra Pradesh resumed release of the water from Krishna River into Tamil Nadu just three months back and it caught the attention of many.
The latest news that has come out now is this supply has been cut. It must be noted that the state of TN received 2.2 thousand million cubic feet of water. This is one third of what TN is supposed to get from the state of AP by the month of June. This was confirmed by an official.
As the storage level in the AP state based Kandaleru reservoir has dipped, the state of AP would not be in a position to supply any more water till the summer end.
According to a senior official belonging to PWD or Public Works Department the water supply was suspended two weeks back. It is worthy to note that Chennai, Tamil Nadu is entitled to get 12 tmcft of water every year from Krishna River. This was according to the Telugu Ganga Project of providing drinking water to Chennai.
Many people would be surprised to know that water drawn from Srisailam reservoir in AP reaches Poondi in Chennai and a distance of 408 km is covered and three major reservoirs are crossed during this journey. The state of TN received 3tmcft of water in 2017 and the agreed amount of water is not met. This was confirmed by the officials.
It is interesting to note that every day the city of Chennai receives 650 million litres of water and the above cut in Krishna water would not create any problems in Chennai.
It is now revealed that the combined storage levels in as many as four reservoirs that cater to Chennai stands at 4206 mcft and that is close to 40 percent of the total capacity. These 4 reservoirs are Redhills, Cholavaram, Poondy and Chembarambakkam and they play very important role in our everyday lives. Every day around 300 million litres of water would be sourced from these reservoirs plus the desalination plants present in places like Minjur and Nemmeli also play crucial roles as 180 mld is sourced daily. Veeranm Lake is the source from which70 mld would be tapped.
As per the officials from metro water it is brought out that stepping up of water supply to 831 mld in this summer is unlikely and current supply of water till monsoon would be maintained.
On Wednesday 11th of April 2018, municipal administration minister Mr. Velumani ordered sinking of as many as 10 bore wells on the Kosathalayar river bed plus 5 bore wells in Neyveli and Paravanar river basins is known.
The metro water officials were told to identify water deficient areas so that water tanks would be set up and equal distribution of water is maintained.
