Currently, 78 cubic feet of water per second is being sent to Chennai in a day, but activists point out that if timely desilting is done, more water can be sent.

The three major waterbodies in Cuddalore district — Veeranam, Walajah and Perumal lakes — that potentially can meet the drinking water requirements of both Cuddalore district and Chennai city have not undergone even a single full-fledged desilting work for several decades.

Cuddalore district, which usually has surplus amount of water mostly due to good monsoon rains, has suffered from water crisis this year. Despite the crisis here, the water from Veeranam is being sent to Chennai, which worsened the local crisis. Currently, 78 cubic feet of water per second is being sent to Chennai in a day, but activists point out that if timely desilting is done, more water can be sent without putting the lives of locals and farmers at stake in Cuddalore district.Read more

Source web page: New Indian express