The Metro water supply comes from a variety of sources, including monsoon-fed lakes and tanks, subterranean aquifers, and distant sources like the Krishna River and Veeranam Lake. Water is also obtained from open and shallow wells, bore-wells, and other sources outside the CMA by people, organisations, and water tanker operators. One of the greatest issues in CMA is the administration's failure to keep up with the growing demand for utility services, notably water and sewerage. This problem is not specific to Chennai; it affects practically all of India's booming cities. Table 1 shows the projected population of CMA area for 2026 and various calculations were made to cater this rapidly growing population.
Table 1 Projected Population for CMA and Chennai City Table : Projected Population for CMA and Chennai City (In Lakhs) Sl.
Description
Actual
Gross density Persons
Projection
No.
/ hectare 2001
2006
2011
2016
2021
2026
2026
1
Chennai City
43.44
46.28
49.50
52.39
55.40
58.56
333
2
Municipalities
15.81
18.52
21.75
25.60
30.20
35.69
149
3
Town Panchayats
3.86
4.73
5.89
7.41
9.45
12.22
78
4
Village
7.31
8.70
10.59
12.96
15.99
19.88
32
70.41
78.96
88.71
99.66
111.97
125.82
105
Panchayats 5
CMA [total]
Future water demand in the CMA is estimated separately for the city, municipalities, city panchayats and village panchayats with different supply standards of 150-120-100 lpcd to the city, 125-100-75 lpcd for municipalities, 100-80-60 for town panchayats and 80-70-60 for village panchayats. The following table illustrates the demand for various purposes as high, medium, and low predicted demands (Scenarios 1,2 and 3 respectively). (Introduction et al., n.d.)
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