Metro Water to draw more from NLC site

Sources said that though officials have still been exploring possibilities to utilise the groundwater sources in other districts like Thiruvallur and Kancheepuram, the poor rainfall has led to depletion of ground water. After Veeranam lake became bone dry, the board officials had already started tapping water from Walajah lake, where water from Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) was seeping. 

“At present, we are tapping water only from the Walajah lake and we are planning to draw water on the NLC premises. So, measures are in place to lay pipe, which will be connected to the pipes in Veeranam lake,” an official said. He added that they would begin tapping water from next week and the quantity of water would be increased to 110 MLD from the existing 60 MLD. 

A senior PWD engineer in Cuddalore said, “We are supplying water to Chennai city after ensuring that our district is getting enough water.” He added that they also needed water for irrigation purpose, as farmers were taking up cultivation. 

A senior engineer of CMWSSB said that besides tapping water from the NLC, they would soon float a tender for drawing water from some quarries that were earlier identified. “We can tackle water crises for the next two more months,” the official maintained.