The Hindu 08.08.2012
Fifth reservoir for city’s water needs, soon
In its efforts to create a new reservoir in Tiruvallur
district, the Water Resources Department (WRD) will soon float tenders
to start work on linking two water bodies in Kannankottai and
Thervoikandigai, which come under the Gummidipoondi taluk.
The
proposed reservoir will be able to store one thousand million cubic
feet of water, when it is filled twice — equal to one month’s drinking
water supply in Chennai. This will serve as the fifth reservoir to cater
to the water needs of the city, and will also store Krishna water from
Andhra Pradesh.
According to WRD officials, a
detailed report for the project, which is worth Rs. 330 crore has been
prepared. A consultant has been appointed to conduct environmental
studies and get clearance from the State Environment Impact Assessment
Authority for the project.
“We expect environment
clearance to be obtained by the end of this month. We plan to float
tenders for the work by mid-September,” an official said.
The
new reservoir, which will have a water-spread area of nearly 1,100
acres, will be located 14 km from Uthukottai, the inter-state border of
the Kandaleru-Poondi canal.Of the nearly 1,300 acres of land required to implement the project, nearly 600 acres are government land.
The
process to obtain ‘enter-upon permission’ from the Tiruvallur
collectorate is also underway. A separate unit is being formed along
with the collectorate for the land acquisition process.
About
700 acres of ‘patta’ lands have to be acquired and nearly Rs.170 crore
has been set aside for land acquisition. “We plan to create an earthen
bund at a length of 7.1 km and a height of up to 14 metres using
excavated sand,” said an official. An 8.3 km-long canal will also be
formed and linked with the Kandaleru Poondi canal, to divert Krishna
water to the new reservoir.
To create the canal with a
capacity to carry 1,000 cubic feet per second, nearly 200 acres need to
be acquired. Of this, nearly 55 acres belongs to the forest department
and the WRD is in the process of seeking permission to use their land.
Besides
serving the city’s drinking water needs, the new reservoir will also
help recharge groundwater in several villages, including Karadiputhur,
Poovalambedu and Periapuliyur.
Will have storage capacity equal to one month’s drinking water supply in Chennai
