Chennai, June 16: The Tamil Nadu government is acting on war-footing to combat the drinking water crisis which has erupted in the state capital. Serpentine queues have been witnessed on the streets as locals are dependent on tankers to address their basic needs. Tamil Nadu Faces Severe Water Shortage As Borewells Go Dry

In wake of the water shortage, the scores of IT firms based in Chennai have asked their employees to "work-from-home". In cases, where distance working is not possible, the employees have been asked to stay on leave as the offices have run completely dry.

The water crisis has most adversely affected the low-income groups, as a large chunk of amount is being spent on availing potable water from limited sources.

A central Chennai resident Kumar B Das said he is spending around Rs 2,500 on water tankers per month, apart from the money that goes for purchasing bottled drinking water.

"I have started reusing utensils by wiping them with a cloth or tissue after first use. That saves much water. Body sprays have become dear to me," the IT professional said.

Raveendranath, a member of a residential association said they had to depend on private tankers for supply as the government metro water tankers take 2 to 3 weeks to turn up.

Private operators have hiked the rates and are demanding Rs 3,000 to 5,000 per truck load of water, he claimed.

A deficit rainfall during the 2017 northeast monsoon and failed monsoon in 2018 has resulted in depletion of ground water and near drying up of major waterbodies, and has pushed residents at the mercy of water-tanker operators.

A senior official in Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) that supplies water to the city told PTI that compared to other metropolitan cities Chennai is in a disadvantaged location because of lack of any perennial rivers.

"We are doing our best and focusing on water distribution, supply and finding alternative sources to meet the growing demand of Chennai.

Plan to set up two desalination plants-capacity of 150 million litres of water per day (mld) and 400 mld - is in the pipeline," the official said.

"We can manage till November and hope for good northeast monsoon at least this year," the official added. Presently, the city has two desalination plants with a capacity of 100 mld each.

Meghala, a maid and a resident of a slum in south Chennai, said the state of those in the low income groups is distressing. "My income is around Rs 6,000 a month. The water I require every other day is 20 pots, each costing Rs 10. Easily Rs 3,000 is gone for a month," Meghala said.

(With PTI inputs)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 17, 2019 02:43 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).