Express action to set up desalination plants as the permanent solution to the Chennai water crisis
Posted on: 14/Jun/2019 1:02:10 PM
Emergent actions have been initiated to immediately set up 2 desalination plants at a cost of Rs. 7600 Crores as the permanent solution to solve the perennial and presently extremely acute drinking water shortage.
The Chief Secretary of the Tamil Nadu State Government CMWSSB (Chennai Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board) Harmantar Singh had a session with the press reporters in this regard. He informed:
The total capacity of the 4 major water reservoirs which supply drinking water to Chennai Metro City is 12722 mcft (million cubic feet). However, the present capacity is just 626 mcft ( a mere 5% of the requirement) is available.
The corresponding figure (the prevalent water capacity) last year was 2.6 tmc.
Presently, the water daily 525 million litres - is supplied and distributed to Chennai Metro City through the desalination plants, additional deeper bore-wells sunk in Veeranam, Neyveli, hired agricultural wells, and other water resources including the Sikkarayapuram Stone-quarries
The state government of Tamil Nadu has allotted funds of Rs. 233.72 Crores. The related basic activities are already in progress.9 new deeper bore-wells are to be sunk in the Neyveli water bed to take 10 million litres of drinking water. Further, arrangements are afoot to get 60 million litres of water through the Neyveli mines and Paravalaaru water resource.
Activities have been initiated to get an additional 95 million litres of water from the surrounding areas of Poondi and Thamaraippakkam and presently, 55 million litres of water is being taken daily.
Activities had also been initiated at a cost of Rs. 11 Crores from last February at the Sikkarayapuram stone quarries and presently, 30 million litres of water is drawn daily. Activities are in progress at the Yerumaiyur Stone-quarries as well at a cost of Rs. 19.17 Crores. Plans and activities are afoot to be taken 10 million litres daily from here before the end of this month, June.
Further, the action is in progress at the lakes of Irattai yeri, Perumbakkam, and Ayanambakkam to purify and distributed 30 million litres of water daily at a cost of Rs. 53 Crores. Out of this, works have been completed in the Lake of Irattai Yeri and 10 million litres of water is taken daily for distribution. Also, work is in quick earnest progress at the lakes of Perumbakkam and Ayanambakkam to take 20 million litres of water daily.
Apart from all the above activities progressing at full swing, actions are foot to drill 358 additional deeper bore-wells and fix motors to take water. 1190 water tanks have also been set up.
Presently, for the residents of n narrow streets in Chennai Metro City, mini-water tanker trucks are being operated to distribute and store water in water tanks of the capacity of 2000 to 3000 litres of water. Arrangements are being made to increase the number of trucks with an additional 52 mini-tanker trucks in the next 10 days to distribute water. Apart from this, new methods are being adopted to distribute water in 64 streets to distribute water from the locality.
9000 water tankers have been hired and 9400 trips are being taken daily to distribute water. Out of these trips, 6500 trips are free. The balance 2900 trips are being charged.
The public can make enquiries/complaints regarding water throughout the 24 hours of the day to the phone number: 044-45674567.
Thus, whether sufficient rains are received or not, considering all the above activities and arrangements, 525 million litres of water can be distributed in the Chennai Metro City without any problems.
The order to set up another desalination plant at a cost of Rs. 1689.35 Crores was released on 25th May. Further, a project plan and report has been completed and made for setting up yet another desalination plant at a cost of Rs. 6000 Crores with a capacity of 400 million litres of water daily.
Once the above 2 desalination plants start operating, the Chennai Metro City will have 760 million litres per day of drinking water.
In order to establish that there is no future shortages of drinking water to encounter, and to cater to the citizens` demand for water, the plans have been devised that 1500 million litres of water for the daily distribution will be at hand through the desalination plants, lakes, and all other water resources.
Activities are in progress at a war-footing for early completion of the above projects. With this, it is safely expected that the perennial drinking water shortage in Chennai Metro City will be permanently solved.
Presently, with MWSSB, around 1800 million litres of water is being distributed daily in the state. The Tamil Nadu State Government has allotted Rs. 250 Crores for this purpose.
