A Water Crisis in Chennai, India

One of the largest cities in India is running out of water. Is this our climate future?

Monsoons typically provide the bulk of water for Chennai, which is one of the largest cities in India. It is on the south eastern coast of the country, in the Tamil Nadu province.  This is a region that relies on seasonal monsoons to supply the bulk of water.

But last year's monsoons were exceptionally weak, causing aquifers and other water sources to run dry.

Now in some neighborhoods if taps run at all, only a trickle comes out. Many neighborhoods are reliant on water trucks -- if they can afford it. Meanwhile many people are fleeing the city while this crisis persists.

The proximate cause of this crisis is poor rains. But according to my guest today, Meera Subramanian, deeper political and social factors have exacerbated this crisis. This includes poor city planning and a focus on massive infrastructure projects of limited utility.

Meera Subramanian is a freelance journalist and independent author. S…