Oscar-winning Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio, known for his environmental activism, has now raised awareness about the ongoing water crisis in Tamil Nadu.
DiCaprio took to Instagram to share a photograph of a dry well.
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“‘Only rain can save Chennai from this situation.’ A well, completely empty, and a city without water. The southern Indian city of Chennai is in crisis after the four main water reservoirs ran dry,” he wrote.
“The acute water shortage has forced the city to scramble for urgent solutions and residents have to stand in line for hours to get water from government tankers. As the water levels depleted, hotels and restaurants started to shut temporarily, and the air con was turned off in the city’s metro. Officials in the city continue to try and find alternative sources of water — but the community continue to pray for rain,” his post further read.
Chennai is battling acute water crisis with major water bodies having dried up due to rainfall deficit in the past two years in the state. This has also led to the depletion of groundwater levels.
Amidst the ongoing severe water crisis in parts of Tamil Nadu, clashes were reported between residents across the state.
The water crisis has also hit the functioning of several industries, especially in Chennai. The shortage of water has hit IT companies, five-star hotels and high-rise residential buildings.
The opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) staged protests against the state government for necessary action to mitigate the people’s suffering.
The ruling party officials, meanwhile, held ‘yagnas’ in temples seeking God’s blessings for the rains.