Water as Leverage- Setting the scene for a call for action
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<strong>Water</strong> <strong>as</strong> <strong>Leverage</strong> <strong>for</strong> Resilient Cities Asia <strong>Setting</strong> <strong>the</strong> Scene <strong>for</strong> a Call <strong>for</strong> Action Content<br />
1.2 <strong>Water</strong> Issues<br />
In Chennai, water and culture are<br />
histori<strong>call</strong>y strongly intertwined, <strong>as</strong><br />
reflected by <strong>the</strong> many temple ponds<br />
and water tanks that functioned <strong>as</strong><br />
retention reservoirs. However, rapid<br />
urbanization and overexploitation<br />
of <strong>the</strong>se scattered wells, wetlands<br />
and marshes have had a negative<br />
impact on water supply and <strong>the</strong><br />
drainage system, and have incre<strong>as</strong>ed<br />
<strong>the</strong> risk of land subsidence. On its<br />
se<strong>as</strong>ide, about 40% of Chennai’s<br />
co<strong>as</strong>t is threatened by erosion,<br />
caused by hard co<strong>as</strong>tal defenses<br />
and accelerated by sea-level rise and<br />
changing currents.<br />
Since drinking water is<br />
scarce, commercially<br />
operated trucks with<br />
tanks transport water<br />
into <strong>the</strong> city to provide<br />
families with fresh<br />
household and drinking<br />
water, <strong>the</strong>y tend to<br />
systemati<strong>call</strong>y block <strong>the</strong><br />
streets of Chennai.<br />
152 CHENNAI<br />
<strong>Water</strong> Issues<br />
PART 2/Background In<strong>for</strong>mation on <strong>the</strong> Partner Cities<br />
153
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