Water Crisis Deepens in Tambaram as Lakes Dwindle
Hanging lakes out to dry
The Times Of IndiaImage: The Times Of India
Residents of Tambaram, Chennai, are facing severe water shortages due to the drastic reduction of local lakes by 44% over the years. The civic body struggles to supply the required 130 million litres per day, falling short at 75 MLD. Plans for a desalination plant and additional infrastructure are underway, but immediate solutions are needed.
- 01Tambaram's lakes have shrunk by 44% due to pollution and encroachments.
- 02Daily water demand is 130 million litres, but supply is only 75 MLD.
- 03A desalination plant is expected to provide an additional 100 MLD by March 2027.
- 04Restoration projects for the lakes have not yet commenced despite allocated budgets.
- 05Residents rely on water lorries for at least six months each year.
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Residents of Tambaram, a locality in Chennai, are grappling with a severe water crisis, relying on water lorries due to the drastic reduction of local lakes, which have shrunk by 44% over the years. The area requires 130 million litres per day (MLD) of drinking water, but the Tambaram Corporation can only supply about 75 MLD. Plans are in place to bridge this gap with 100 MLD from the Perur desalination plant expected to be operational by March 2027. However, the lack of infrastructure raises concerns about storage and distribution. The corporation has only 49 overhead tanks and no new reservoirs have been built in the past five years. Local lakes, such as Rajakilpakkam and Nanmangalam, are heavily polluted and encroached upon, with restoration projects stalled despite budgets being allocated. Residents express frustration over inadequate piped water supply, despite paying water taxes. The Tambaram Corporation has announced plans to construct additional overhead tanks and source water from the river Palar, but immediate action is required to address the ongoing crisis.
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The ongoing water crisis significantly affects residents, forcing them to rely on water lorries for daily needs. This situation could lead to health and sanitation issues if not addressed promptly.
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