Krishna water talks to be held on June 30

Chennai:

Officials from Water Resources Department and Chennai Metro Water
would be holding discussions with Andhra Pradesh officials seeking
release of Krishna Water from July 1.

A Water Resource Department official told Express that after a letter
has been written to Andhra Pradesh seeking release of Krishna Water,
the meeting assumes significance.

This also comes in the wake of Krishna water supply to the city being
disrupted last month.

Tamil Nadu is entitled to get 12tmcft from Andhra Pradesh every water
year from June 1 to May 31st under the inter-state water sharing
agreement reached between the two states. While 4 tmcft would be
released between January-April, the remaining ought to be released
between July-October.

Interestingly, the city is not facing immediate water crisis thanks to
the contingency plan put up by Chennai Metro Water.

“We have water in the reservoir to last us for the next three months.
But we are not taking any chances,” said the WRD official.

Currently, the city has about 3.5TMC feet of water which is nearly one
TMC feet more than last year. Poondi reservoir has 112 million cubic
feet of water while Red Hills and Chembarambakkam reservoirs have 1308
million cubic feet and 1,102 million cubic feet of water.
Interestingly, Veeranam lake, which supplies water to the city has 1
TMC feet of water.

Interestingly, water amangers are pinning their hopes on good rains
next month. “This will reduce evaporation and our water situation
would improve,” a Metro water official said while welcoming the sudden
downpour on Saturday.