Seeking to allay fears over Chennai facing a water shortage in the coming months, Local Administration Minister S P Velumani on Wednesday informed the Assembly that the situation can be handled till December 2019, adding that the deficit in supply will be bridged through a summer mitigation project to be taken up at a cost of Rs 1,015 crore. 

Replying to the Leader of Opposition, M K Stalin, who demanded a white paper on the drinking water projects implemented in the State since 2011, Velumani said the government in the past three years has sanctioned projects worth more than Rs 12,000 crore, thereby enhancing the supply of drinking water. The Chief Minister has sanctioned a sum of Rs 158 crore under the first phase of mitigation project, which includes Rs 122 crore for Chennai. 

“The State has also earmarked Rs 448 crore to attend to the water shortage in rural areas, while Rs 221 crore will be spent in town panchayats and municipal areas during the current fiscal,” Velumani said. Explaining the summer mitigation plan, the Minister said the Veeranam lake in Cuddalore will be refilled using the water from Mettur dam. More than 350 agricultural borewells will be tapped in Neyveli, Thamaraipakkam and Tiruvallur areas. Besides, water from Sikkarayapuram and Erumaiyur quarries in Kancheepuram district will be tapped to obtain 40 MLD of water per day, Velumani said. 

Earlier, Stalin noted that all the four reservoirs supplying water to Chennai were fast running dry, and said the existing storage will last only till the end of February. He also warned that 20 districts are facing a drought-like situation and are prone to water shortage. There is a need for a major mitigation project, he said. 

Pointing out that the State in the past seven years had spent more than Rs 25,000 crore on drinking water and desalination projects, the DMK leader demanded a white paper on the number of projects executed and its benefits.  In his speech, Congress floor leader K R Ramasamy said the State has already started witnessing water shortage due to deficit rainfall (60 per cent). The public are spending Rs 10 per can. There is a need to improve water supply, he said