Chennai may get 6 mld industry water share

CHENNAI: City residents may get an additional 6 million litres a day (MLD) of water as the Sipcot industrial park at Irungattukottai is preparing a water security plan to self-sustain the supply chain to the industrial units. Five unused waterbodies in the vicinity of the industrial park have been identified for the purpose and would act as water sources for the industrial units.
Eight MLD is being pumped from Chembarambakkam reservoir to Sipcot Irungattukottai. Currently, it has been stopped as the reservoir has gone dry due to the dismal monsoon last year.
Official sources with the State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu (Sipcot) said the new initiative was aimed at reducing the dependence on water from Chembarambakkam. "Five tanks located within a distance of one kilometre, with capacity to source two to three MLD for the industrial park everyday, have been identified. These waterbodies would be desilted to enhance their capacity and converted into a source for the industrial units," the official said.
The waterbodies are situated in villages, including Katrambakkam, Sundarpedu and Seevalur, around Irungattukottai. Sources said these tanks are under the rural development department and have lost their relevance after agricultural activities in these regions became almost extinct.
The industrial park at Sipcot is spread over 1,850 acres of land, housing 270 companies employing 30,000 workers. Of these, 25 are major industries manufacturing cars, apparel and shoes. These units require eight MLD of water for production which is sourced and pumped out from Chembarambakkam reservoir, about 12 km away from Irungattukottai on the Chennai-Bengaluru national highway.
Meanwhile, a tertiary treated reverse osmosis (TTRO) plant under construction by Metrowater at Koyambedu is expected to commence its operations by September. "The TTRO plant will supply treated greywater for Irungattukottai. With the water in the five tanks and treated water, it would reduce our dependence on Chembarambakkam reservoir to two MLD, which would be used for providing drinking water to the employees," the Sipcot official added.
This would mean diversion of an additional 60 lakh litres of water daily for the consumption of city residents. The water security plan has been taken up as a pilot project at Sipcot in Irungattukottai. It is expected to be expanded to other industrial clusters in and around Sriperumpudur. Collectively, these Sipcot industrial units draw 20 MLD of water from Chembarambakkam.
According to sources, a survey for rejuvenating tanks that have been identified for the purpose has begun. "We are in the process of completing the rehabilitation of these tanks before the monsoon. Once done, these waterbodies would turn a source for the industrial units within a short distance," the official said.