Chennai: The suburbs of Pallavaram, Tambaram, Alandur, Nanganallur, Palavanthangal and Chromepet are facing water shortage, citizens being forced to rely on private tankers for their needs. Kilkattalai, Hasthinapuram and Nemilicheri have a total population of around 2 lakh residents whose daily requirement is 290 lakh litres per day, but they get only around 100 lakh litres per day, said local municipal sources.
Under the Tambaram-Pallavaram integrated drinking water scheme, a daily supply of 70 lakh litres should have been realised, but the supply has gone down to 54 lakh litres. Chennai Metro Water supports the southern suburb by providing 30 lakh litres per day, but due to summer management, this too dipped to 25 lakh litres per day, said insiders. “Water is provided once in three days and the residents have started depending more on private tankers and water can suppliers.” said Ms Krithika Manglesh.
Pallavaram municipal commissioner A. Ramamurthy admitted that there was a water shortage but the situation was not alarming. Since last month, by temporary arrangement, water was being tapped from the Palar basin. Drinking water supply works to the tune of Rs 3.25 crore had been scheduled for the next two months to ensure safe drinking water every alternate day. Public and private wells were also being tapped from nearby Kancheepuram, about 60 loads of water was supplied through this means, he said.
To ensure a permanent solution a Rs 100crore World Bank project was under way through which Chembarambakkam reservoir would be tapped to meet the growing demand, he said. “New pipeline augmentation has been taken up this summer and the Rs 64-crore project will improve the water shortage in Alandur and Palavanthangal,” another senior civic official said.
