The Hindu : `Improved KP canal will be ready by July-end'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jun 23, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

`Improved KP canal will be ready by July-end'

By T. Ramakrishnan

CHENNAI June 22. Concerned at water scarcity residents of Chennai are faced with, the Andhra Pradesh authorities are working zealously to ensure that the lining work on the 152-km-long Kandaleru-Poondi (KP) canal, which brings Krishna water to the city, is completed in a month.

At present, the work is being executed on all vulnerable stretches, so that more quantum of water reached the city quicker than in the past. "The work is progressing on schedule and the improved canal will be ready by July-end," says a senior official in the Andhra Pradesh Irrigation department, adding that the entire cost of the work has been borne by the Sathya Sai Central Trust, which set apart Rs. 200 crores for Chennai water supply, and L & T is carrying out the lining work.

In addition to the KP Canal, the Trust's funds are meant for improvement works on the Kandaleru reservoir and the Somasila-Kandaleru canal.

The cost of KP canal work component is nearly Rs. 30 crores. In view of the Trust underwriting the cost of improvement works, the authorities called it the `Sai Ganga Canal'.

In the last three years, the efficiency rate of realisation of water for the Tamil Nadu's border was around 30 per cent. During March and July 2002, about 10 tmcft (thousand million cubic feet) was released from Kandaleru, but only 3.2 tmcft reached the city. After the lining work, the flow is likely to increase.

Besides, the neighbouring State has planned to store more water this time in the Kandaleru reservoir.

The necessary land acquisition has been completed. Till now, only 17 tmcft could be stored. It will be 30 tmcft henceforth, the official says.

But, to enjoy the `fruits' of all the plans, there must be enough storage, which is missing now.

To draw water for Chennai, the Kandaleru reservoir, terminal storage point in Andhra Pradesh, should have a storage of about 6 tmcft, whereas the existing level is less than 3 tmcft.

With the delayed onset of the southwest monsoon and the absence of any pre-monsoon shower, the Andhra Pradesh authorities hope that at least in the weeks to come, they experience heavy rainfall, which alone will ensure the early resumption of the release.

Meanwhile, the city water managers are walking a tightrope as they are left with about 975 mcft (million cubic feet) in the Red Hills tank.

Cholavaram and the Sathyamurthi Sagar in Poondi, have also become dry and the depleting storage of Red Hills has to be stretched till October middle, when the northeast monsoon sets in over the State.

Apart from Red Hills, Metrowater is banking on groundwater to draw a maximum of 100 million litres a day.

From July, the quantity of water supplied to the domestic consumers will be brought down from the existing 250 to 225 MLD.

This will include around 35 MLD supplied through tanker-lorries to "defective pockets and streets".

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