Drought In A Flood-Prone City

The Chennai flood of 2015 caused immense loss of life and property.

- Raj Bhagat Palanichamy

Today, the city is running out of water, putting immense stress on the population and administration. The four major lakes that supply Chennai’s drinking water are dry, the Krishna river scheme didn’t provide relief and the Veeranam project has proved insufficient to meet the city’s water demand. Ground water reserves are running low, too, leaving Chennai dependent on desalination plants.

One major reason for Chennai’s water crisis is poor management of demand and supply. Over the past century, like in many other Indian cities, Chennai’s water demand has increased significantly due to rapid urbanisation and industrial and agricultural growth. Hence, even slight fluctuations in supply can cause a crisis. Chennai’s rainfall in 2018, 835 mm, was less than the average 1,400 mm, triggering the crisis this year.

The government’s increased focus on desalination plants and on bringing in water from other watersheds might not solve the problem. Desalination plants mean major investment and operational costs, and the Krishna and Cauvery rivers are also affected by water scarcity issues. In the face of such dilemma, the city needs to consider implementing a comprehensive plan to avert future water crises.