Chennai: Metrowater supply up, but a few areas have no lines – Times of India

CHENNAI: Metrowater distributed 1,000 million litres to residents in the core areas and some added areas on Sunday, for the first time ever, but people in areas such as Ambattur, Madhavaram and Madipakkam continue to wait for piped supply.
The increase in supply is to ensure that the reservoirs, which are brimming now, are ready for the inflow when the northeast monsoon sets in by the middle of October.
Members of residents’ welfare associations in Ambattur said the agency was demanding Rs 3,500 from each household, apart from the charges already paid, for piped supply. In Madhavaram and Madipakkam, non-completion of work had delayed supply, said a source.
Currently, a senior Metrowater official said, residents in the core areas get 790 million litres a day (MLD) and those in some added areas get 139 MLD. Besides, 22 MLD goes to industrial units, 18 MLD is sent to a few municipalities and another 40 MLD is supplied through tankers to the core and added areas.
With all the reservoirs including Veeranam lake in Cuddalore having a combined storage of 10,545 mcft (9million cubic feet), Metrowater has reduced supply from the two desalination plants. The plants at Minjur and Nemmeli can treat and supply 100 MLD each, but Metrowater on Sunday took only 77 MLD from Minjur and 86 MLD from Nemmeli.
Till last month, the agency was supplying only 850 MLD to residents. Now, an additional 150 MLD goes to newly added consumers in some added areas of South Chennai where pipelines have been laid and connections provided. Before starting regular supply, it had conducted trial runs, said the official.
In Nerkundran, Madhavaram, Manappakkam, Edayanchavadi, Sadayankuppam, Kadappakkam, Manali, Surapet, Kathiredu, Puthagaram, Puzhal, Chinnasekkadu, Mathu, Madipakkam, Jallidayampet, Uthandi, Ramapuram, Okkiyam Thorappakkam, Neelankarai and Semmancherry, Metrowater is laying pipelines to provide water supply. The work in at least 10 localities is expected to be completed in the next six months. Officials will then conduct trial runs through the newly laid pipes to help identify leakages, if any, as well as to check the free flow of water.
In order to cover more localities in the added areas, Metrowater is also setting up its third desalination plant with a capacity to supply 150 MLD of treated water. This plant is likely to become operational by 2023.