14-yearn old water crisis haunt Chennai again as Red Hills Reservoir goes dry

Chennai:

Chennai is facing a water crisis similar to that of 2003-04 after Red Hills reservoir, one of the key sources of water supply for the city, dried up for the first time after nearly 14 years.

A Metro Water official said that the reservoir which is one of the main source of water supply to the city dried up in 1983, 2003-2004 and even in 2015, it had around 20 million cubic feet of water during the first week of November after which the rains came to the rescue of the city.

“We are facing a similar crisis as that of 2003-04. The only hope is the desalination plants which are providing 180 MLD of water as well as ground water sources,” said the official.

Metro water has already cut down the supply of water to nearly half as several parts of the city is now dependent on water tankers as well as borewells The city supply is maintained at 470MLD and water managers are hoping to ensure they maintain the same supply.

Interestingly, the cutting down of water supply has already put pressure on the ground water as more than two-thirds of the households supplement their water needs from borewells. However, this too is depleting in many parts of the city. Residents in and around Purusaiwalkam say that they are digging deeper to ensure water supply in their homes. “We had dug a borewell 117 feet deep but since we could not tap water, we are planning to dig deep to 200 feet where in we can ensure water for our household activities,” said Jagdish, a resident of Purusaiwalkam.

Interestingly, the huge extraction of ground water by Metro water has been a cause of concern among farmers. Nearly 200 borewells as well as Veeranam lake and Neyveli Lignite Corporation mines are supplying around 115MLD of water to the city, say Metro Water sources. While officials do accept the concern of farmers but quenching the thirst of Chennai’s residents has been the major focus.

After tapping 4MLD of water from Porur Lake and 30MLD of potable water from 22 stone quarries in Sikkarayapuram, Metro water is now looking at tapping the Eramaiyur quarries in Mudichur for water. “Once we assess teh quality then we will release the water to city,” he added.  

No Hope from Krishna: Water resources Department officials told Express that Andhra Pradesh government has yet to give response to the letter from the department highlighting the water crisis the state is facing and requisition for supply of water.

“The Kandaleru reservoir has 4MLD of water and it is being supplied to Tirupati and Kalahasti areas,” said a Water resource Department official.

Factfile:

Lake levels

Poondi:

Full Capacity: 3231 million cubic feet

Storage last year: 776

Current level: 21mcft

Cholavaram:

Full Capacity: 881 million cubic feet

Storage last year: 79mcft

Current level: 00 mcft

Red Hills:

Full Capacity: 3300 million cubic feet

Storage last year: 1124mcft

Current level: 00 mcft

Chembarambakkam:

Full Capacity: 3645 million cubic feet

Storage last year: 1778mcft

Current level: 87 mcft

Capacity of four reservoirs: 11057 million cubic feet

Last year level: 3,757 mcft

Current level: 108 mcft

Box:

--- In 2003–October 2004, groundwater levels fell in Chennai fell as extractions increased as consumers extracted more groundwater from private wells as piped supply was curtailed.  

--- It is feared that if the there is five to 10 metre drop in the water table, a quarter of the residential

wells in city will go dry.

--- This could result in the city being totally dependent on water being supplied from tanker as well as desalination