Metrowater begins tapping water from private wells

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI, MARCH 10. With the aim of augmenting water supply to the city during summer, the Metrowater has begun to hire water from around 100 agricultural wells near the main pipeline carrying water from Thiruvallur to Redhills and near Panjetty Well Fields.

It is proposed to extract around 40 to 50 MLD (million litres per day) from these wells --- 20 MLD from April 2001 and an additional 20-30 MLD from May 2001 --- so that the total extraction from the ground water source could be maintained at about 130-140 MLD. At present, water from six well fields (Minjur, Panjetty, Kannigaiper, Tamaraipakkam, Flood Plains and Poondi) are being used and an additional 10 MLD will be extracted by erecting new wells from April 2001.

In addition, a sum of Rs. 10 crores has been allocated to meet the contingencies that may arise during summer, according to a release from the Mr. Ko.Si. Mani, Local Administration Minister and Metrowater Chairman. The Metrowater Managing Director has been authorised to take action as and when required to meet the problems, put up additional tanks, hire additional water lorries and new pumps.

As a move to reassure the city residents on the water supply position this summer, Metrowater officials today listed the various options that are open to maintain a comfortable water supply position. Currently, water supply to the city is being maintained at the rate of 250 MLD. The combined storage at Poondi and Red Hills as March 9 was 1298 mcft. 5312 mcft of Krishna Water has been received from September 1 to March 9 and the water is being used for city supply.

With the expected receipt of water from the Kandaleru Reservoir upto the middle of April 2001 and the extraction of ground water from own and hired wells, Metrowater authorities assure that the present daily supply will be maintained.

Providing street-specific details, the press release added that out of 14,066 streets, 750 streets did not have water mains and about 4,400 streets also did not get water supply as the pipes had become defective. For these 5,150 streets, mobile water supply is being maintained with about 600 hired tankers, which make an average of 4,400 trips per day. The daily expenditure on maintaining these mobile supplies also comes upto Rs. 7.07 lakhs.

As per the orders of the Chief Minister, action will be taken to install 3,000 stationary tanks at a cost of Rs. 4.5 crores in the streets where the demand is likely to be more during summer. Directions have also been given to install 100 tanks daily in the city and to complete the erection of 3,000 new tanks by the end of April 2001.

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