Chennai might go dry if no rains in next 25 days, asks Andhra to release Krishna water

As per an assessment on Monday, there was less than one month’s water left -7 per cent of the total storage capacity in the reservoirs.
Chennai might go dry if no rains in next 25 days, asks Andhra to release Krishna water
Chennai might go dry if no rains in next 25 days, asks Andhra to release Krishna water
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Chennai city might run out of drinking water if it does not rain in the next 25 days and it has approached Andhra for help, reported The Times of India.

The weather department has predicted mild rain for the next six days. 

The TN Public Works Department (PWD) has asked Andhra Pradesh to release 4tmcft (thousand million cubic feet) of Krishna water at the earliest. However, Metrowater has also thought of using agriculture well fields in Tiruvallur district to provide drinking water to people of Chennai city.

As per an assessment on Monday, there was less than one month’s water left -7 per cent of the total storage capacity in the reservoirs. TOI reports that if the northeast monsoon does not arrive soon and if Andhra does not release water from Krishna, the city will face a problem.

A senior government official told TOI that at least 30 tmcft of water is being drawn by metrowater every day and the existing water reserves will not last for a month. The state PWD has asked abut 4 tmcft to be released by Andhra to make sure that farmers can carry on with agriculture. According to the agreement between both the states, Andhra has to supply about 12 tmcft of water from the Kandaleru reservoir to Poondi.

If the water is not provided by Andhra, then Metrowater will reduce supply and also provide far-off areas with additional tankers, an official told TOI. However, the decision will be taken by the end of December. Currently the water from desalination plants and water from Paravanar river are being used. They might also use water from Veeanam tank if required, an official told TOI.

This was first reported by Julie Mariappan and Abdullah Nurullah of The Times of India.

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