“Presently, 700 million liters per day (MLD) of water is being supplied to the city. From Thursday, an additional 50 MLD will be supplied,” said Municipal Administration and Water Supply Minister SP Velumani after taking part in an inter-departmental coordination meeting that was convened to discuss about monsoon preparedness.

Besides him, Ministers D Jayakumar, RB Udhayakumar and P Benjamin, and Chennai District Collector R Seethalakshmi, city police Commissioner Mahesh Kumar Agarwal, Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner G Prakash and others took part in the meeting held in Ripon Building on Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters, Velumani said the floodwater had receded in the city within three hours and added that there were only 19 spots in Chennai where rainwater stagnates.

“The lakes that supply drinking water to the city have 8 thousand million cubic (TMC) metres of water now. They can store another 4 TMC before reaching the brim. Also, Chembarambakkam lake is only 80 per cent full. Even if the lake reaches full storage capacity, the reservoir is strong enough to hold the water,” he said, adding that steps have been taken to prevent mixing of sewage into the city water bodies.

“Northeast monsoon is normal in 12 districts and less than normal in 24 districts,” he said.

The Minister also added that strict action would be taken against the hospitals that dump medical waste in the civic body’s garbage bins.