Water supply for Chennai from Erode & Neyveli by train!
Posted on: 27/Jul/2015 3:10:13 PM
Though a number of projects have been taken up to meet the drinking water demands of Chennai Metro city have been taken up, it has been rather difficult to meet the water demands of the rising population.
Many people in several localities are facing acute drinking water shortage.
It is a common sight with women scurrying for water with empty pots.
When Chennai City`s population was 50 Lakhs, 831 million tons of water was supplied daily. Now, the city population has increased to 70 millions, only 550 million tons of water is being distributed daily.
Most city areas receive water only once in 2 days. The major reservoirs which supply water to Chennai Metro City, Puzhal, Chembarambakkam, Cholavaram, and Poondi all currently have very low level with no inflow of water. Though the recent rains increased the water level to a certain extent, it could not help meet the heavy demand.
It is learnt that Metro water officials are planning to meet the demand by bringing water through trains. The officials visited Villivakkam Railway Station to inspect the conditions & infrastructure of the wagons which were already used for this purpose.
During the year 2001 when there was severe water shortage, water was brought by train from Erode to Villivakkam Railway Station and then taken by pips to the pumping station.
So, the officials are thinking on this mode to bring water by train from Erode & Neyveli.
It will take 12 hours for water from Erode to reach Chennai by train. Each train can carry up to 60 wagons. Water will be pumped from the wells on the banks of the river Kavery. Similarly, water will be pumped from the coal mines in Neyveli.
As these 3 mines are quite deep, the pumped water is purified and then distributed as drinking water. The officials are also exploring whether water can be transported through trucks.
Currently, water is brought from the Lake Veeranam to Chennai. Around 2000 cft (Cubic Feet) of water and 4000 cft of water on the occasion of `Aadipperukku` has been released from Mettur dam to Veeranam Lake.
If Summer Rains meet the expectations, the current shortage of water can be managed. However, if there are no summer rains, there may be no option except to bring water from Erode & Neyveli.
Hence, the officials undertook the task of the inspection of wagons to be ready in case.
