The city will not face any water crisis this summer, as the government has undertaken various measures to ensure that 550 million litres a day (mld) of water are made available to residents till December, Municipal Administration Minister S.P. Velumani has said.

Replying to DMK president M.K. Stalin, who raised the issue of an impending water crisis in the Assembly and sought a White Paper on the mitigation work undertaken by the government so far, Mr. Velumani said the Chief Minister had, on January 31, issued an order sanctioning ₹158 crore towards drought relief measures.

Series of measures

The Minister listed the measures taken by the government, including providing water from quarries in Sikkarayapuram and Erumaiyur, filling up of the Veeranam lake with water from the Mettur dam, digging nine new wells in the Neyveli river belt and sourcing water from Paravanaru, Kadilam and 350 farm wells in Poondi, Thamaraipakkam and surrounding areas.

Water will be provided from Retteri, Perumbakkam and Ayanambakkam as well, he said. The government was taking steps to dig 171 additional wells, and Krishna water will reach the city soon, he added.

“Even if there is a more severe drought than expected, these measures will ensure Chennai [gets] 550 mld of water till December,” he said.

The Minister said work was also being undertaken to ensure water supply to other municipalities, corporations and rural areas in the State.