CHENNAI: Contending that the state government has been tackling the water crisis in the ‘best manner possible’ fisheries minister D. Jayakumar said politicising the issue is unacceptable.
“Water management is a crucial subject. We are doing maximum that we can do. Even after deficient rains, we are trying hard to provide water. Over 400 water tanks are supplying water in the city. Politicising the issue is unacceptable,” the minister said on Wednesday. Speaking to reporters here he said the AIADMK government had ensured the revival of Kudimaramathu (traditional maintenance of waterbodies with the participation of farmers) and allotted about Rs 500 crore for desilting the water bodies.
Maintaining that the government would be able to manage the crisis until the northeast monsoon, which brings rains to the State between October and December, he said “despite monsoon failure, one should see how the government is handling the issue.” Mr. Jayakumar listed out various efforts taken by the government.
“At a time when even nature is not offering a helping hand, we are pumping one tmc water from Mettur to Veeranam lake, from where the water is channelised to the city,” he said and added that due to foresight of former CM J. Jayalalithaa, Chennai was getting water from the Veeranam project. He said that the government would be able to meet the needs of the people till November and expressed confidence that the problem would be solved after the arrival of the northeast monsoon.
Four major lakes of Chembarambakkam, Poondi, Red Hills and Cholavaram that supply water to the city have become bone dry. On Tuesday, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami had said that drought and a deficient monsoon had resulted in depletion of groundwater levels, but that the issue was not as big as was being made out, especially in the media.
