With water level depleting fast in the Palar River, residents of Tambaram and Pallavaram are facing an acute shortage in drinking water supply before peak summer.

Residents claim they used to get water once in every three days. But now they get supply hardly once in a week. Palar River is the major source for drinking water supply in Pallavaram and Tambaram municipalities.

“There are fresh lakes in Pallavaram. We can get more water, if we deepen them. Only a comprehensive water scheme can ensure uninterrupted water supply to people here for the next two or three decades,” says Narasimhan, a resident of Pallavaram and a former councillor.

In Pallavaram, residents claim the flow and the pressure of water have drastically come down due to depletion in the water source.

“The tanks usually become full as there will be good flow. But now, it doesn’t,” says Kannan, another resident.

M Karikalan, the Tambaram  municipal chairman, says at present they have received about 87 lakh litres against the regular volume of 1.25 crore litres. To make up for the rest, the municipality has come up with proposals, some of which are already being worked on.

“We are setting up 12 new borewells for acquiring 30 lakh litres. Two new sumps with one lakh litre capacity each on Mudichur Road and Thiruneermalai have also been proposed. We do supply water once in every three days,” he adds.

He adds that the existing distribution system will also have to be revamped at a cost of Rs 55 crore and a proposal has been sent to the State Government in this regard. “The pipelines were set up in the 1960s. Sometimes, we have to stop water supply as the pipes can’t withstand the pressure and develop cracks. We will change them gradually so that the supply is not affected,” he adds. The Municipality was also in talks to start a pilot project to supply water 24x7 to the people.