Tamil Nadu: The state of Tamil Nadu is staring at a severe water crisis in the wake of soaring heatwave and shortage of monsoon rain. In March this year, the government had declared 24 of 32 districts to be drought affected. At least 19 districts have reported a fall in groundwater levels in 2019, compared to only three districts in 2018.
Vilathikulam, a small village in the southern district of Thoothukudi is a living example of the ongoing crisis.
The region has dried up. No signs of rain and the government authorities are treating the crisis with reckless abandon.
Speaking to ETV Bharat, a resident of the village claimed that for the past 15 days, they have been suffering due to water shortage.
"The region does not have any wells. We dig holes to extract the groundwater," he stated being teary-eyed.
The cattle and livestock in the village have also suffered and the residents are preparing to take them to neighbouring villages in search of water and fodder.
They fear the day when every ounce of groundwater will dry up triggering a mass migration and conflict due to water stress.
Besides, the residents use coconut shells to fetch water!
Thoothukudi is one among many districts of southern Tamil Nadu were the non-availability of clean drinking water and acute water shortages have taken a toll on the living population.
A similar incident was reported from Karungalakudi village in Madurai where scarcity has forced women to walk barefoot on rough terrains to fetch water for drinking, bathing and cooking food in stifling heat.
However, this is not restricted to villages.
The city of Coimbatore is also going through a brief period of water shortage.
The residents have blamed the monsoon failure for the past three seasons and have asked the government to clean all ponds, tanks and construct more check dams to save water during rains.
Due to the heatwave in Coimbatore, more than 10 out of 20 tanks around the city have become dry.
As the cities grow and become densely populated, water bodies are stressed.
Eventually, they bank upon nearby villages to ensure the supply of water. Drying up of several villages amidst a sprawling cityscape will trigger a conflict over water resources.
The water levels in Chennai’s four main reservoirs have been at their lowest in seven decades, with the current quantities cumulatively adding only up to 1.3% of the total capacity. This is the fifth lowest quantity of water recorded in the last 74 years, making it one of the worst droughts the city has witnessed.
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Further, even when the state awaits the arrival of Southwest Monsoon, which provides over 75% rainfall to the entire nation, the crisis should act as a signal towards the impending 'water conflict,' which will grip the entire state.
