‘No Metro Water board meetings since Feb 2016’

In fact, the meeting of the board (chaired by state municipal administration minister), which ought to be convened every three months as per Chapter 3 of Section 18 (1) of Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Act, 1978 has not happened since February 23, 2016. The startling stat came to light, courtesy the RTI petition filed by Arappor Iyakkam, a city based whistleblower group.

Replying to a petition filed on January 19, 2018 by Jayaram Venkatesan, Convener of Arappor Iyakkam, Chennai metro water, in its reply dated February 9, 2018 admitted that only three meetings were conducted since January 1, 2014. Going by the RTI reply, shared with DT Next by Arappor Iyakkam, meetings were held on August 27, 2014, April 21, 2015 and February 2, 2016 so far since January 1, 2014. Notably, CWMSSB has admitted to its abysmally poor record of holding mandatory meetings at a time when the city was unsure of meeting its water requirements till the onset of next northeast monsoon which replenishes the reservoirs in the region. 

Stating that the Act clearly mandates the board to meet once in three months to carry out the functions of the board, Jayaram Venkatesan said, “There has not been even a single board meeting after this Government came into power in 2016.” While Chennai has been facing a lot of issues with respect to drinking water and sewage, the city’s sewage of more than 1,000 MLD is being let into waterbodies without any treatment. 

“Chennai does not have a comprehensive law to regulate underground water. While the key function of the Board is to meet regularly, discuss, approve and take up developmental activities to address the problem of citizens with respect to water and sewage, it is shocking that not even a single meeting has been held for over two years,” he added.