Summary:
The four reservoirs that supply drinking water to Chennai have a combined storage of only 17% and water supply has been erratic in several places across the city. “As a result, the surface water and groundwater resources are fast depleting and the districts/ blocks are already experiencing drinking water problems. “We have declared hydrological drought in districts where drinking water can become precarious. ‘Drinking water supply can become precarious’CHENNAI: Bracing itself for a drinking water crisis this summer, the Tamil Nadu government has declared 17 districts, including Chennai and neighbouring Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur, and 38 blocks in seven other districts as drought-hit.These districts recorded deficit rainfall ranging between 19% and 59% last year. So the situation has to be watched very closely by the districts concerned,” said a senior revenue official..