Tamil Nadu Water Crisis: Reservoirs & Major rivers depleted; Chennai residents turn to Water Tankers

Parts of Tamil Nadu are facing major water scarcity as temperatures remain high with respite in the form of rainfall remaining elusive. Reeling under this is capital city Chennai, where educational institutions and residential areas are the ones which are worst hit. 

Noel Corera, a student and resident of Adyar says:

"We are forced to cut down on our water usage. Our only option is the private tanker which comes just once a week. Our hostel lacks a stable piped water supply."

Private tanker contractors in the city are charging anywhere Rs. 3000-6000 depending on the water capacity of the tankers, as per inputs. 

According to reports, piped water supply in the state capital has been reduced by 40 percent. Reservoirs across the state have decreased water levels accentuating the shortage, while with rivers running dry, the people have also been forced to adopt stingent measures to avoid drinking impure water, especially that with large amounts of chlorine. 

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The four major reservoirs which supply water to Chennai have a combined capacity of just about 11 tmc (thousand million cubic feet). Sundarrajan of NGO Poorvurlagin Nanbargal said: 

"The state is facing a big disaster in terms of water resources and water supply. Its also facing the worst drought in last few years. Nothing was done to augment the water capacity of the main reservoirs which supply water to the city."

Adding to his statements, Sundarrajan also said: 

"Chennai should have got about four tmc from Krishna District till April. But just 0.8 tmc of water was supplied, the rest is not yet supplied.

The farmers are among the worst hit since they have started skipping cultivation of crops like Kuruvai due to lack of surface water. Other crops affected are sugarcane. 

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The Kaveri River which is the drinking water source for at least five crore people, should have provided 20 tmc of water. But the situation has worsened over time. Sundarrajan is urging people to conserve water and forests as the state suffers from water crisis. In addition, the Vaigai River has also dried up. Vaigai is the primary source of water for residents of Theni, Andipetti and Madurai. Even the water canals which provide drinking water have dried up further deteriorating the situation. The drought has also cost washermen and numerous daily wage labourers their jobs. Even though the Indian Meteoroidal Department (IMD) has predicted a decrease in heat wave, the state faces the worst drought in years. 

Some other states which are facing water crisis and drought include Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Chattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. 

(With inputs from ANI)