Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today ordered release of 180 million litres of water from the Veeranam tank in Cuddalore district to meet the drinking water needs of Chennai from August 17.
Following the release of water from Mettur dam for irrigation in the Cauvery delta, the water level at Veeranam has risen to 935.20 million cubic feet, she said in a statement.
During her earlier tenure, Jayalalithaa had introduced the 'New Veeranam Scheme' in 2004 to solve the drinking water needs of the state capital.