More than a year after its commissioning, the Nemmeli desalination plant has not fulfilled its promise of providing reliable drinking water to large sections of Chennai, particularly along the IT corridor. Residents of areas like Sholinganallur and Perungudi continue to face erratic supply, forcing a continued dependence on expensive private water tankers despite having piped connections and paying taxes.
Spotty Supply Amidst Ample Production
The plant, which became operational in February 2024 with a capacity of 150 million litres per day (MLD), sends most of its output to 14 other areas, including Velachery, Alandur, and Madipakkam. Only a fraction reaches the Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) belt. According to residents, a mere 60 homes in Sholinganallur and about 100 in Perungudi receive water once or twice a week. The rest of the plant's substantial output flows elsewhere in the city.
"Most of the plant's 150 million litres goes to 14 other areas," confirmed Harsha Koda, co-founder of a federation of OMR residents' associations. "When we questioned the distribution, officials told us to wait for the coming 400MLD Perur plant. We still depend on tankers despite connections and taxes."
The High Cost of Water Scarcity
This failure in distribution has a direct and heavy financial impact on households. The cost of private water tankers fluctuates between ₹900 and ₹2,000, varying with seasonal demand. The shortage reached a critical peak in June 2025, when the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (Metrowater) cut supply to the OMR region by a staggering 75 percent, coinciding with restrictions on tanker movement.
The situation underscores a stark disparity: a major infrastructure project is operational, yet the intended beneficiaries are left paying a premium for a basic necessity. Residents express frustration over paying for a public utility service they do not adequately receive.
New Promises, Eroded Trust
In response to the ongoing crisis, the state government has announced plans for Chennai's sixth major reservoir. The proposed site is a 4,375-acre location in the Kovalam basin, situated between the East Coast Road (ECR) and OMR. This reservoir is designed to store 1.655 thousand million cubic feet (tmc ft) of water and deliver 170 MLD to south Chennai and its suburbs.
However, public skepticism runs high. "Plans sound good, but we've endured two decades of empty promises," said Sholinganallur resident Rupa Balakrishnan. "Like other projects, this could take years. We don't trust delivery of the promised 170 million litres."
Metrowater officials offer a more immediate solution. V. Rekha, the zone engineer for Sholinganallur, stated that 100 million litres from the Nemmeli plant is currently serving south Chennai. She added that a pipeline project specifically for the IT corridor is underway and will soon supply OMR and Sholinganallur through pipes.
For now, the wait for consistent, affordable tap water continues for thousands in Chennai's southern suburbs, as the gap between infrastructure promises and ground reality remains painfully wide.
