Water scarcity in Chennai? No chance, say officials banking on brimming reservoirs

Chennai: Chennai is on course to efficiently manage the summer of 2016 and any rise in water demand that it may bring about, according to metro water officials.

While the city’s outskirts and suburban localities beyond the Greater Chennai Corporation limits seem to be on the verge of a water scarcity trouble that may impact the polls even, officials are confident that Chennai will be insulated because of a four-year high storage found in its primary reservoirs.

Water level in the Poondi reservoir is the highest for the month of March since 2012 while in Cholavaram and Red Hills, the storage is at the highest it has been since 2011 March.

More proof of where from the metro water board is drawing confidence of quenching the thirst of over seven million Chennaiites this summer can be seen in the water level of Chembarambakkam, which is the highest recorded in over a decade.

Though the city is gearing up to face one of the hottest summers in history, officials don’t believe that the reservoirs will be affected much. “There will be evaporation but only the normal levels. Anyone who thinks evaporation can deplete our reservoir storage is just humbugging,” said an official.

Healthy groundwater levels too offer encouragement, say officials. “Levels in neighbouring Tiruvallur and Kanchipuram districts from where we draw water in times of need are very good when compared to this time last year,” an official said.

Officials acknowledged that there had been an increase in number of drinking water lorry trips for March, which suggests a higher demand prevalence. However, as there was “nothing to worry” about water availability, any increased demand will be absorbed just well by the board, a senior official said.