Dravidian Parties' Water Projects in Chennai: Veeranam, Krishna, and New Veeranam Schemes

Summary

The article examines three major water projects—Veeranam, Krishna Water, and New Veeranam—implemented in Chennai during the governance of Dravidian political parties (DMK and AIADMK) from 1967 onward, addressing the city's chronic water scarcity. Historically, Chennai relied on wells, tanks, and traditional water management systems like *Eris* (lakes) for irrigation and flood control. British colonial rule introduced modern infrastructure, including the Poondi Reservoir (1944) and regulated water supply systems. Post-independence, the Congress government expanded water distribution but faced challenges in meeting growing demand. The DMK, first elected in 1967, prioritized augmenting water supply through distant sources. The **Veeranam Scheme** (1967) aimed to draw Kaveri water from Veeranam tank to Chennai, involving a 21.56 km pipeline to a treatment plant and a 201 km conveyance system. The project faced delays, cost overruns, and contractual disputes, including a ₹2.22 crore default by contractor Sathyanarayana Bros., leading to its eventual abandonment. The **Krishna Water Scheme**, initiated under AIADMK, sought to import water from the Krishna River in Andhra Pradesh after severe droughts in the 1970s. This project, though expensive, was deemed necessary due to depleted groundwater. The **New Veeranam Scheme** later emerged as a revised initiative to address persistent water shortages. The article highlights the political and logistical complexities of these projects, including financial mismanagement, foreign exchange dependencies, and infrastructure challenges. Despite their efforts, the schemes only partially alleviated Chennai’s water crisis, underscoring the difficulties of large-scale water management in rapidly urbanizing regions.