Kerala offers 20 lakh litres drinking water, TN rejects it

Kochi, June 20: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday expressed willingness to provide 20 lakh litres drinking water to Tamil Nadu, which is facing a water crisis, but the latter has declined it, saying there was "no need for the help at present."

"Since the major water bodies of Chennai has been facing acute water shortage, the Kerala government decided to extend an helping hand," a release issued from the Kerala Chief Minister's office said.

Though chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan's office contacted the Tamil Nadu CMO on the offer, the neighbouring state informed that "at present there is no need for the help, it said.

Tamil Nadu Municipal Administration minister S P Velumani told reporters in Coimbatore in that deficiencies in some ground water conservation projects were identified at various places, including Chennai, and were being attended to.

He said Tamil Nadu was facing the worst-ever drought. Rains were expected in a few days, he said.

As far as Chennai was concerned, he said there was depletion of ground water as the city had witnessed rains 190 days ago.

Water was being supplied through lorries and borewells are being dug wherever the water problem prevails, he added.

The Tamil Nadu government has said it was largely dependent on ground water to meet requirements till the onset of north east monsoon in October.

Chief Minister K Palaniswami has said drought and deficient monsoon had resulted in depletion of groundwater levels, but claimed the issue was not as big as was being made out, especially in the media.