Dwindling water levels in reservoirs and reorganisation of water distribution spark complaints about defective water supply

Chennai:

After Chennai Metro Water reorganised its water distribution in the city following the declining water levels, complaints about defective water supply have begun pouring in.

As grievances were aired during the open house meeting held in Metro Water area office, Metro Water sources told City Express that the reservoirs supplying water to the city have only 2,031 million cubic feet, according to the reorganisation arrangement made in seven zones. This has resulted in piped water supply getting affected in these zones.

Areas like Anna Nagar are the most affected after the reorganisation.Yogishwaran, a supervising engineer, said that there was an urgent need for the people to conserve Metro Water. “People should try to use borewell water for bathing and other purposes rather than using the Metro Water, which is scarce due to the dwindling levels in water reservoir,” he said.

Currently, reorganisation of piped water distribution is being done on alternate days in Tondiarpet, Royapuram, Thiru Vi Ka Nagar, Anna Nagar, Teynampet, Kodambakkam and Adyar.

Piped water is currently supplied from Poondi, Red Hills and Chembarambakkam. Officials said that Poondi had 323 million cubic feet of water, Red Hills 742 million cubic feet of water and Chembarambakkam had 966 million cubic feet.

“This time, we have received four complaints of defective water supply,” said Yogishwaran. “These mostly pertain to the tail-end water supply. All these issues will be rectified once we receive adequate water after rains,” he said.

Metro Water will also bank on 300 cusecs of Krishna water per day, once the temporary works by Andhra Pradesh Irrigation Department in Uppalamadagu Canal near Kalahasti in Andhra Pradesh gets over by the end of this month. Other complaints included sewage issues from Purusawalkam and Chetpet.

“These will be immediately tackled,” a Metro Water official assured. During the meeting held last month, 26 petitions were received regarding water supply and sewage disposal and  22 petitions have been  rectified. Action will be taken on the remaining four petitions, a Metro Water spokesman said