Warning issued as lakes breach banks

Chennai District Collector Sundaravalli has issued a flood alert to the people living on the banks of the Adyar river as excess water will be expelled from the Chembarampakkam river too. The rains pounding the city have brought up the levels of all drinking water bodies in the city and officials are expecting that the lakes will reach their full capacity soon.

A Chennai Metro Water Board official said with relief, “Poondi lake had only 70 million cubic feet (mcf) on November 1, but it is like a sea now with 1,626mcf on Sunday. Similarly, the level of Shozhavaram, Chembarampakkam and Puzhal lakes has increased at least 20 times over the last 15 days. Sunday’s rain alone brought 1,935mcf to these reservoirs, the total level rising to 7,023mcf.”

He pointed out that on the same date last year, the water level of these lakes stood at 2,973mcf.

Police personnel were deployed at about 12 lakes around Chennai as a precautionary measure to prevent miscreants from vandalising. As part of this, water rescue teams have been formed in every police station headed by Inspectors to pick those who are trapped in severe waterlogged places with the help of boats. These teams are visiting the low lying and flood prone areas and issuing flood alerts wherever necessary besides extending the required help to the people in rain-hit areas. Most of the 12 lakes around Chennai are full after the torrential rains lashing the state while a few are filling up fast due to the heavy inflow of water.

Police has been deployed at these sites for round the clock security to prevent damage to the lakes by unruly elements. The patrol headed by the Deputy Police Commissioner will carry out raids at these the 12 lakes of Velachery, Narayanapuram, Thangal, Porur, Chembarampakam, Puzhal, Retteri, Avadi, Renganathapuram and Rajakeezhpakam.