Metrowater to instal more tanks by month-end

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI, APRIL 7. Metrowater will instal 2,000 new drinking water tanks by the month-end in addition to the existing 1,000, Mr C. P. Singh, Managing Director, Metrowater, said here today.

Talking to presspersons about the water position in the city reservoirs, Mr Singh said, since February the Metrowater had installed 350 new hand pumps. Another 650 would be in place before the end of this month.

Noting that tapping well water sources was ``economic and dependable,'' he said besides the 70 Metrowater-owned wells, private wells were also being exploited to ensure that between 130 and 150 million litres of water was drawn in May-June.

This would be supplemented with the receipt of 150 million litres of Krishna water stored at the Kandaleru reservoir. At present Metrowater distributes 250 million litres daily (mld) in the city.

Of the 14,066 streets in the city, 750 do not have water taps and 4,500 were dry due to low pressure. A little over 600 water tankers catered to these streets every day and about 18 lakh residents were getting 20 to 25 litres of drinking water on an average daily.

The number of water pipes at the 14 Metrowater filling stations, including the four stations commissioned in March, had been increased from 67 to 102. The move had helped in decongesting the Anna Park, Kilpauk and K.K. Nagar filling stations.

From April 12, the Valluvar Kottam filling station would have lesser number of tankers to fill and from May onwards about 30 tankers would be transferred to Velachery and Nandanam distribution points. The time limit to complete water filling process had also been brought down to 10 p.m. from midnight.

A vigilance committee was formed under the Metrowater Executive Director to monitor and streamline water drawal and distribution, inspect the licenses of the tanker crew and wastage in transit. Already 10 teams were functioning under the respective regional engineers to ensure proper water distribution, he said.

Due to two consequent monsoon failures, the water table in city wells hovered around 22.5 metres now. During the 1993 drought conditions, it was about 25 metres.

As of today, the Poondi reservoir had 278 mcft of water and at the Red Hills the level stood at 876 mcft, he said.

About 25 houses were found to tap Metrowater using jet pumps and necessary action had been initiated against the erring consumers. Similarly, contract of eight lorries was terminated for various violations, Mr. Singh added.

CM no exception to water scarcity

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