Against Water Wastage in Chennai by a Month-long Artificial Snow Field

We are horrified to learn from news reports that in Chennai, a perennially water starved city, the Government of Tamil Nadu is partnering a massive luxury entertainment event at Island Grounds using artificially generated snow during the height of summer, when major parts of the city and surrounding areas face acute water shortage. We fail to understand how the Government of Tamil Nadu could back such a reckless entertainment complex, scheduled to run for a full month from 1st May to 1st June, 2008, which carelessly squanders water for the sake of luxury entertainment.

Have our Government and policy makers forgotten the bitter memories of the water shortage of 2003 and 2004 when millions of Chennai residents suffered terrible summer heat made worse by irregular water supply? Have our policy makers forgotten the sight of distressed Chennai-vasis fighting for water around water tankers even as the official agencies desperately hunted for water to tap? We fail to understand how official agencies like TWAD, Metrowater, Tamil Nadu Tourism Board, TN Pollution Control Board and others could have given permission for such a terribly damaging scheme of water use.

The water drought in 2004 was so severe that the Government was forced to stop agricultural operations in areas around Chennai so that the ground water could be used for drinking water purposes. Well-fields like Poondi, Tamaraipakkam, Kannigaiper, Panjetty and Minjur and Kosasthalayar, which had managed to meet the city's needs in previous decades, were so badly exploited that the water aquifers were almost totally destroyed. Good rains in later years have not managed to adequately refill the badly affected water aquifers.

Water availability is a serious issue in Tamil Nadu, which is a rain shadow region. The governments ground water data shows that in 1997, of the 380+ blocks in Tamil Nadu, only 137 were Safe Water blocks with adequate ground water availability. By 2003, this number had come down to 97. Over-exploitation of ground water had reduced per capita water availability in Tamil Nadu to 840 CUM (cubic metres) whereas the national average was 1200 CUM. Internationally, less than 1000 CUM indicates a Water Scarcity Area. Our state thus qualifies for that status.

This situation will be worsened through wasteful luxury parks like `Snow Ball. The upcoming launch of 'Snow Ball' on 1st May at Chennai's Island Grounds includes plans of 15,000 square feet of snow area. Along with the snow arena, there are to be 150 air-conditioned stalls with, presumably, exhibitions and sales by sponsors. Event organizers also inform us of movie screenings, "fashion shows", "amusement rides" and other forms of entertainment.

While we do not object to the idea of catering to entertainment needs of Chennai residents, we cannot accept that this be brought about by exploiting a precariously-poised, crisis-ridden resource like water. Entertainment of some can never be justified when it comes at the cost of the basic needs of others. A majority of Chennai-ites cannot afford to spend 150 rupees per head for half a day's entertainment. On the other hand, many do not get an adequate supply of water and electricity to even experience a decent standard of living.

We would like to stress that good rains in the last two years may perhaps have reduced the intensity of water shortage, but has not solved it completely. Expert agencies have already sounded a warning of a major water crisis hitting not just our state, but also many regions of India. The spectre of climate change and changing weather and monsoon patterns also makes the situation extremely serious and not something which can be played with.

Thus, for an event such as Snow Ball, promoting the extravagant abuse of our most precious resources - water and another equally inadequately available resource, electricity - to not only be allowed but also partnered by a government authority is unacceptable to us. While multiple corporate brands are being promoted as part of the good life at Island Grounds during May, many parts of the city and its outskirts will continue to suffer the grim water shortages of a Chennai summer, without round-the-clock electricity to provide even the vestige of relief.

We whole-heartedly condemn the blatant misuse of water and electricity that is to accompany the production of snow scheduled to take place at Island Grounds throughout May, 2008 as part of Snow Ball. We demand that the Government of Tamil Nadu direct that the water based events be totally stopped. If this means putting an end to the snow area, that is no tragedy compared to the bigger one that will result if the event is allowed to go ahead as it stands.