Nemmeli plant shut for maintenance, water supply takes hit in Chennai

CHENNAI:  With the Nemmeli desalination plant shut for maintenance, people in parts of Perungudi and Sholinganallur zones haven’t had water supply for nearly a week. They said they are forced to buy water from private suppliers as the plant is being closed every month.

The two zones require 45 million litres per day (MLD) of water, and receive 38 MLD, of which 28 MLD are supplied from Nemmeli desalination plant and 10 MLD from Veeranam, officials said.  “In the last six months, the Nemmeli plant was shut for maintenance often.

Our area is at the tail-end of the supply link. Even on regular days the water pressure and supply are poor. When the plant is shut, there’s no water for a week,” said R Karthik of Kanthanchavadi, Sholinganallur zone. He said since Metro Water tankers take two days to supply water after booking, locals depend on private tankers.   The situation is similar in the Perungudi zone. “They announce a day in advance  the plant will be shut, and we suffer. If the plant is being shut, they must make alternative arrangements,” said N Arjun of Kannagi Nagar. 

Ward 182 councillor KPK Sateesh Kumar said elected representatives raised the issue in zonal meetings at least three times, and also with Metro Water officials, but to no avail. “Localities with residents from poor backgrounds are worst hit. People’s main demand is to solve the water crisis. We don’t get responses from the corporation or Metro Water,” he said.

Metro Water staff said another desalination plant, with a 150-MLD capacity, is being built, and once ready, water supply to the area will be increased. We are discussing temporary measures to solve the problem, they said.