Abandoned quarries go dry, water crisis in Chennai set to worsen

The water crisis in Chennai is likely to worsen as the abandoned quarries in Sikkarayapuram have gone dry and the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (Metrowater) will have to stop drawing water from them in two days. The Sikkarayapuram quarries have been supplying 30 million litres of drinking water per day.

A Metrowater official said, “We started taking water from the quarries on March 2 and our plan was to tap water for only 90 days. Due to the demand, we continued to tap. Now, the level has depleted so much that our pumps cannot draw water.” Metrowater, for the past few weeks, has been drawing less than 25 million litres per day (MLD) instead of 30 MLD.

Asked about the alternative arrangement to offset the shortage, the official said that Metrowater would tap water from abandoned quarries in Erumaiyur and that water would be supplied to the city in one or two days. The quarries would provide 10 million litres per day. As per claims of Metrowater and water supply minister SP Velumani, the Metrowater is supplying 525 million litres on alternate days, which, sources say, has proved to be insufficient.

Water managers have identified Pulipakkam quarries near Chengalpet, Keerapakkam and Nallambakkam quarries near Vandalur as contingency option if monsoon is delayed or fails this year too.

“There are seven abandoned quarries in Pulipakkam which could supply 45 million litres per day. Nallambakkam and Keerapakkam quarries could supply around 20 million litres. As pipelines from Veeranam pass through Chengalpet, we can easily link pipes from Nallambakkam and Keerapakkam quarries. But we have to lay new pipelines connecting Chembarambakkam treatment plant from Pulipakkam,” the official explained.