CHENNAI: The ‘Sustainable Water
security mission’, which was begun in Chennai, will be replicated across
the State by the next financial year, says Phanindra Reddy, principal
secretary, Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department.

He was speaking to the Express on the sidelines of the Water Conclave
2017. The sustainable water security mission that was launched by
Jayalalithaa had five components: campus rain water harvesting; grey
water recycling and reuse; storm water harvesting; restoration and
rejuvenation of water bodies; and research, documentation and outreach.

SS Rajagopalan, former director, State
Water Resources Management Agency and former chief engineer, Water
Resources Department, said the State Water Policy was not renewed since
2002. Reddy reacted to it saying that while the policy remained on
paper, sustainable water security mission would play the role of an
action plan instead.

Around 280 water bodies were identified
in Chennai, of which 32 were shortlisted for the project and a detailed
report was prepared for four to five. Pilot projects were initiated for
15 water bodies.

“We’ve instructed each municipality to desilt and deepen reservoirs in
their area without expecting extra Government funds,” he said. “Apart
from cleaning natural reservoirs, we have extended the project to temple
tanks,” he said. In Chennai, 17 temple tanks was identified to ensure
that the tanks were replenished and cleaned and if there was no inflow
of water, the reason would be analysed. “We have completed restoring two
of these tanks,” he said.