Chennai Metrowater Secures Extra Water Release From Mettur Dam for Veeranam Tank

Chennai Metrowater has sought and secured approval for an additional release of water from the Mettur dam to boost storage levels in the Veeranam tank and maintain Chennai's daily drinking water supply.

The Veeranam tank in Cuddalore district currently holds only 15% of its total storage capacity of 1,465 million cubic feet. Despite the depleted storage, the tank continues to supply 179 million litres per day (mld) to supplement Chennai's total drinking water distribution of 1,245 mld.

With storage levels in Chennai's primary reservoirs dropping while waiting for replenishment, Metrowater requested the Water Resources Department to discharge an additional 500 cubic feet per second (cusecs) of water. This release is being made alongside water discharged for combined drinking water schemes in other districts, including Tiruchi and Erode.

A Government Order was issued approving the additional water release through the end of September to build up storage at Veeranam, which serves as a crucial water source for Chennai. Officials from Metrowater stated that the discharged water is scheduled to reach the tank by the first week of September.

The water released from the Mettur dam has reached its final 27-km stretch before flowing into the Veeranam tank. Inflow from the Vadavar channel is projected to bring at least 100 cusecs to the waterbody, which will help balance the daily withdrawals.

Recent rainfall across catchment areas in Cuddalore and Ariyalur also provided an inflow of roughly 170 cusecs, arresting the decline in water levels. Inflow is expected to rise further following the release of water for Cauvery delta irrigation starting September 1. As part of contingency preparations, officials noted that plans are in place to draw approximately 40 mld from the Paravanar channel region.

At the same time, the Kandaleru-Poondi canal at the Tamil Nadu border in Tiruvallur district is receiving around 410 cusecs of Krishna water from Andhra Pradesh. Officials said these combined measures will support water availability in Chennai's major reservoirs, which stand at 45% of their total capacity, until the arrival of the Northeast monsoon.