Chennai Seeks More Krishna Water As Reservoirs Decline
Chennai’s water managers are preparing to seek increased Krishna water supplies from Andhra Pradesh as declining reservoir levels raise concerns over long-term drinking water security. A joint team from the Water Resources Department and Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board is expected to discuss additional releases, highlighting the growing pressure on urban water systems amid uneven rainfall patterns.
The city’s five primary drinking water reservoirs currently hold around 5,630 million cubic feet (mcft), accounting for less than half of their combined capacity. The available storage is significantly lower than the corresponding period last year, increasing dependence on external water sources to maintain daily supply. Krishna water transfers through the Kandaleru–Poondi canal system have provided crucial support since late May. However, the flow reaching Tamil Nadu has reduced sharply in recent days, creating concerns over whether current inflows will be sufficient until the arrival of the Northeast monsoon.
Officials are expected to approach authorities managing the Telugu Ganga Project in Andhra Pradesh to request a higher discharge from Kandaleru reservoir. The proposal involves maintaining a sustained flow of around 500 cusecs until October, which could help Chennai strengthen storage levels before seasonal rains begin. The situation underlines a larger challenge facing rapidly expanding cities: balancing rising water demand with increasingly unpredictable climate conditions. Urban planners note that Chennai’s future growth, including residential expansion and economic development corridors, will depend heavily on resilient water infrastructure and better resource management.A senior official involved in water planning said maintaining steady external supplies is essential not only for households but also for hospitals, industries, commercial areas and other critical urban services that depend on reliable water availability. The current dependence on Krishna water also reflects the importance of regional cooperation in managing shared river resources. Under the existing agreement between Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, Chennai is expected to receive a fixed annual quantity of Krishna water through scheduled releases.
Experts believe that strengthening Chennai water security requires a combination of additional supply sources, improved rainwater capture, groundwater protection and efficient distribution networks. Reducing losses in urban pipelines and improving demand management will become increasingly important as population growth continues. The city has received thousands of million cubic feet of Krishna water over recent months, helping stabilise supplies during a period of weaker local rainfall. However, sustained urban resilience will depend on how effectively Chennai integrates climate adaptation measures into future water planning. As officials seek additional releases, the immediate focus remains ensuring adequate storage through the dry months while building a more sustainable and climate-ready water framework for the metropolitan region.
