Tamil Nadu - Chennai   

Water storage capacity in Chennai inadequate, says PWD Secretary

CHENNAI: The drinking water situation in Chennai is comfortable and the city will not face any water shortage even during peak summer, Secretary to Public Works Department S. Audiseshiah said here on Saturday.

“Drinking water availability is not a cause of concern even though several high-rise housing projects and software companies are coming up in different parts of the city. But, what is causing concern to the government is the inadequate tank storage facility”, Mr.Audiseshiah said addressing members of the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), Tamil Nadu Regional Branch, Chennai.

Highlighting the importance of “linking of rivers in Tamil Nadu”, the main theme of the meeting, he said that on its part the government had appealed to the residents to further strengthen the concept of rainwater harvesting (RWH).

The assistance of District Collectors and non-governmental organisations has been sought to help identify unused tanks and take immediate steps to clear the encroachment to augment tank storage capacity.

As part of the Tamil Nadu Government’s ambitious programme of linking of rivers within the State, the PWD Secretary said the mega project was being implemented in three phases.

The Rs.165-crore Kattalai barrage canal project would span the South of Cauvery Water River Basin where a 255-km canal would be constructed to facilitate partial diversion of flood water to drought-prone areas and also help to mitigate impact of floods.

The detailed project report had been completed.

He said the linking of rivers within the State would be taken under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme of the Centre.

Highways Secretary and Vice-Chairman of IIPA K. Allaudin said the Highways Department was willing to share the financial cost for taking up widening of bridges or roads across dams.

Vice-Chancellor of Mother Teresa University Aruna Sivagami called for a concerted effort to preserve water resources.

Commissioner of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Service and honorary Secretary of IIPA P.R. Shampath said that “interlinking of rivers” was a sensitive topic and there was need for better understanding of the contentious issues behind it.

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