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Efforts on war footing for water supply, says Edappadi K Palaniswami

The Chief Minister asked the Ministers and officials to accord top priority to tackle the crisis faced by the masses.

Chennai: Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami who chaired a high-level meeting on Wednesday, has directed the officials to take measures on war footing to address the acute water crisis prevailing in the State. He is said to have assured funds to step up the water supply.

The Chief Minister asked the Ministers and officials to accord top priority to tackle the crisis faced by the masses. Dy CM, O. Panneerselvam, besides Ministers, Chief Secretary Girija Vaidyanathan and senior officials participated in the meeting. The state has been facing acute scarcity for water owing to insufficient rainfall. As a result, the groundwater level in several areas has declined. As the water scenario is worsening, agitations with empty pots have erupted at various places across the State.

In the city, Metrowater has been rationing the water supply as the reservoirs which are primary sources for drinking water supply, have gone dry. The city currently receives 550 million litres of water (MLD) every day against the required 800 MLD.

Groundwater in Chennai and its surrounding areas is replenished by five lakes - Puzhal, Sholavaram, Kaliveli, Pulicat and Maduranthakam, all located within a 60-km radius of the city. Officials at the Metro Water say efforts are on to tap water sources in adjoining Tiruvallur district, besides the Veeranam lake in Cuddalore to ensure that they meet at least a limited supply until the monsoon season.

The plight of farmers in the delta region is very precarious. With water level at just 47 feet in Mettur dam the prospects of releasing water by June 12 to facilitate irrigation appears bleak.

The monsoon should ease the situation as the Karnataka government had not released the due share of water to Tamil Nadu between January and April, say
farmers.

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