The Kerala government on Thursday expressed willingness to provide 20 lakh litres drinking water to Tamil Nadu, which is facing acute water scarcity, but the latter has declined it, saying there was “no need for the help at present.”
“Since the major waterbodies of Chennai have been facing acute water shortage, the Kerala government decided to extend a helping hand,” a release issued from the Kerala Chief Minister’s office said.
Though Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s office contacted the Tamil Nadu CMO on the offer, the neighbouring State informed that “at present there is no need for the help”, it said.
Kerala was prepared to transport 20 lakh litres of drinking water from Thiruvananthapuram to Chennai through train, the release added.
Tamil Nadu Municipal Administration Minister S.P. Velumani told reporters in Coimbatore that deficiencies in some groundwater conservation projects were identified at various places, including Chennai and were being attended to.
He said Tamil Nadu was facing the worst-ever drought. Rains were expected in a few days, he said.
As far as Chennai was concerned, he said there was depletion of groundwater as the city had witnessed rains 190 days ago.
Water was being supplied through lorries and borewells are being dug wherever the water problem prevails, he added.
The Tamil Nadu government has said it was largely dependent on groundwater to meet requirements till the onset of northeast monsoon in October.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami has said drought and deficient monsoon had resulted in depletion of groundwater levels, but claimed the issue was not as big as was being portrayed, especially in the media.
