Water wastage continues unabated at Metro Water filling points

Sources claim that the board maintains 40 filling points and operates 507 metro water tankers to supply water to the residents in the city. Though the board must supply 830 million litres per day (MLD), they are currently only supplying 530 MLD, owing to parched lakes and depletion of ground water giving an ominous sign to water managers. 

“The staff should use equipment that is placed high above the water lorry while filling the tanks. Further, the tank keepers in some points show laxity and let the water flow freely resulting in wastage,” said a staff, on conditions of anonymity. In addition to this, the locals gain access to these points to draw water and sometime waste water in large quantities, the staff added.

Another staffer said that water is being filled beyond the permissible limit. “The Metro Water tankers have a capacity of 6,000 litres, but the staff tend to fill it to the brim which leads to wastage during travel,” said another employee. There is no proper monitoring system in place at filling points said the employee and blamed field engineers for filling the tanks above the prescribed level. 

When contacted, a senior official said, “We have formulated a special team to monitor such issues. After we issued circulars to all the area engineers to contain water wastage, all the staff have followed the norms.” 

When asked about purchasing advanced equipment to prevent the wastage, the official replied, they would consider sending a proposal to the government regarding this issue.

To tide over the water crisis, Metro Water will supply the city with water drawn from the Paravanar river through the Veeranam pipeline. The river is currently being fed with water from Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) open cast mines. 

According to Metro Water sources, as the Veeranam lake went dry, officials decided to tap the water stored by NLC, as was done in the past. Farmers from Cuddalore district raised stiff opposition. However, the Metro Water officials were in touch with the Cuddalore district administration and sought water due to the prevailing water situation. 

“As per our request, PWD officials released water from Walajah lake to Paravanar river, after which it will be treated before reaching the city through the Veeranam pipe,” said a Metro Water official. The city will receive around 130 million litres per day.