Ineffective water supply system blamed for crisis

Residents feel the situation has improved due to the monsoon. They however dread the summer. Vaishali R. Venkat reports.

January 03, 2015 08:21 pm | Updated 08:24 pm IST

A view of the Adambakkam lake. Photo: G. Krishnaswamy.

A view of the Adambakkam lake. Photo: G. Krishnaswamy.

The northeast monsoon has helped cope with the water crisis in the Alandur zone comprising Pazhavanthagal, Nanganallur, Adambakam and Alandur.

Residents, however, feel the respite could be shorter than expected.They are still haunted by the spectre of water scarcity in the near future, as they believe the root cause of the issue still remains unaddressed — which is a poor system of water supply.

V. Rama Rao, social activist, Nanganallur, says, “In the four areas, we are getting drinking water once in four days. However, in the city, water is supplied every alternate day and every day in a few areas.”

P. Moorthy, secretary, Bharth Nagar Nala Sangam, Adambakkam, says people in Adambaakam are getting Palar water once in three days and Metrowater in between.

“We are expecting Metrowater supply on a daily basis. During summer, when we’ll have just one to two hours of water supply, it will be difficult to manage.”

V. Santhanam, president, Federation of Civic and Welfare Associations of Pallavaram, says now, following the monsoon and with rainwater harvesting, the situation is much better. The condition of borewells has, of course, improved, but the water cannot be used for drinking purpose.

He says the full benefit of a successful monsoon has not been reaped because stormwater drains have not been de-silted in several interior streets. Garbage is being thrown into the drains, causing blockage. Illegal sewage connections, linked to stormwater drains, have resulted in the contamination of waterbodies.

Ramarao says a comprehensive scheme under JNNURM was commissioned in 2009 with an agenda of completion in November, 2012. After a delay of two years, it was inaugurated in February, 2014.

Though water is now available now from the Veeranam source orfrom the Kilpauk source, the present sump’s capacity is only 70 lakh litres.

A sump with a capacity of one crore litres to receive the Metrowater and redistribute water to 13 overhead tanks is necessary, he says.

“Unless this is ensured, the frequency of water supply will always be in doubt, especially during the summer season,” he adds.

In Bharath Nagar (Adambakkam), except for Saraswathy Street, stormwater drains have not been laid in the other streets. On Krishna Street, the main water line connection has not been provided yet. “Though we have informed Metrowater officials and the 165th ward councillor of this problem, nothing has not been done yet,” says Moorthy. During the summer season, residents of the area purchase drinking water of 20 litres at Rs. 35 as ground water level goes down to 400-500 feet. The worstaffected are people living in apartments.

A few members of the Bharath Nagar Nala Sangam, Adambakkam, recall with a sense of nostalgia that in the olden days, there was no water scarcity and every household had water even at the depth of 18 to 20 feet. “Since the adjoining St. Thomas Mount railway station is shortly going to adopt a three-tier system, the realty sector in the area is bound to be on an upswing, causing water scarcity. So, as a permanent solution, if the Adambakkam lake is de-silted and deepened, the residents can avoid buying drinking water from private parties,” says Moorthy.

It is an irony that though endowed with several waterbodies such as Pallavaram Big Lake, Pallavaram- , has always been in the grip of acute water shortage. The waterbodies have not been protected properly. Indiscriminate encroachments and poor maintenance have been their bane. As a result, the residents have been feeling the pinch, forced to buy water from private tankers, though water is supplied under the Palar water scheme, says Santhanam.

The Pallavaram municipality has introduced ‘New Water Scheme’, sourced from Chembarambakkam Lake, and then brought to Pallavaram through Porur and Kundrathur. The project is implemented by the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB). The scheme is progressing at a slow place and once implemented, it will benefit the residents of Pallavaram and Chromepet considerably.

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