Deccan Chronicle 10.11.2009
Rains increase inflow into city reservoirs
Chennai, Nov. 9: The rains in the last few days have increased the inflow to the four reservoirs, Poondi, Cholavaram, Redhills and Chembarambakkam, that the capital city largely depends on.
Chennai, which is the only metropolis in the country without a perennial source of drinking water, depends on the northeast monsoon to replenish its aquifers and quench its thirst.
It is these rains that decide whether the city would be able to take care of its water requirements for the rest of the year.
Apart from the four reservoirs, Chennai also depends on water from Veeranam Lake in Cuddalore district and Krishna water from Andhra Pradesh.
As on Monday, Poondi reservoir has got an inflow of 1,230 cusecs, while Cholavaram recorded 653 cusecs and Red hills 921 cusecs. The inflow to Chembarambakkam stands at 1,556 cusecs.
The increase in inflow has increased the water level in the four reservoirs, with total storage standing at 4,605 million cubic feet (mcft). “Rains so far received are insufficient and to meet the city’s water needs till next monsoon season, we need more rains and more water in our reservoirs,” said Mr G Elangovan, engineering director of the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB).
He added that the inflows into the reservoirs were good and water level had gone up, but it would only be enough to meet six months’ need.
Besides rain, the rainwater harvesting system employed throughout the city also contributes in increasing the water table level. “However the effect of RWH would only be known at least one month after the rains,” said Mr Elangovan.
Dr Y. E.A. Raj, deputy director general in the Regional Meteorological Centre of Chennai, said that though the interior districts received good rains on Monday, the rainfall in the state was deficient by 3 percent. According to him, rains would pick up strength by the weekend.
Meanwhile, unknown persons damaged the bund lock of the 100-acre Sembakkam Lake at the Sembakkam town panchayat near Tambaram. The water, which got diverted, is at the moment flowing to Nanmangalam Lake near Thirumangai Nagar.
