The Hindu 14.10.2010
4 reservoirs to be repaired
K.Lakshmi
CHENNAI: The Water Resources Department will soon carry out repair works in the four reservoirs that supply drinking water to the city.
A Government Order sanctioning Rs.19.22 crore for the works in the reservoirs at Poondi, Cholavaram, Red Hills and Chembarambakkam was issued recently. The Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department would contribute 50 per cent of project cost as the waterbodies are being used for city water needs, officials of the WRD said. Recalling that a comprehensive report detailing the works at an estimated cost of nearly Rs.100 crore was submitted to the government, an official said the government has allotted fund for the first phase. A major share of the fund allotted would be spent on strengthening of bund running up to nearly 3 km in the reservoirs at Red Hills and Cholavaram. While nearly Rs.8.66 crore has been sanctioned for works at Red Hills, the WRD would execute repair works at a cost of Rs.7.96 crore at Cholavaram.
The Red Hills reservoir's bund would be widened from the existing 5 m to 10 m. The strengthening works would be carried out for a length of nearly 3 km from Puzhal water treatment plant to Red Hills, an official said. The damaged portion of the road on the bund would also be relaid.
Leakages in weir, a structure to allow surplus water from the reservoir to flow out, would be repaired at the waterbodies in Red Hills, Chembarambakkam and Cholavaram. Minor works such as repairing damaged shutters would be taken up in Poondi reservoir, the official said. “It is over a decade since major work was taken up in the waterbodies. We also plan to fence the vulnerable points in the reservoirs to prevent their misuse,” the official added. Work is expected to begin in March and will be completed in 18 months.
