Several areas in Chennai have already begun facing the brunt of water scarcity. The capacity of the four reservoirs from where the city gets water remain below 15 percent, reported The Times of India. In such a situation, the government has decided to tap water from 12 water bodies below sea level in Chennai.

Speaking at a seminar at the Indian Meteorological Society and Regional Meteorological Centre, Revenue Administration Commissioner K Satyagopal said that usually desilting is done up to sea but the new plan is to do it much deeper to save a larger amount of water.

The irrigation tanks that will be desilted can hold about 750 million cubic feet (0.75 TMC). He said that most of the areas have irrigation tanks which have not been tapped after urbanisation. These tanks will be desilted and also steps would be taken to make sure that state becomes drought-proof.

He added that the state was facing severe drought situation, with rivers like Thamarabarani and Vaigai virtually drying up. Moreover, the input subsidy losses to 32 lakh farmers will be given to them, and about Rs 2,247 has been allocated for this. They will soon receive the money, he said, reported The Hindu.

Reportedly, areas like Besant Nagar, Thiruvanmiyur and Adyar are facing water shortage. The residents in Adyar have been ordering about 9,000 litres of water from private tankers.

However, the meteorological department has predicted rains in Chennai in March.