In 20 yrs, water levels in city lakes dip below 100mcft

On May 25, the combined water storage in Poondi, Cholavaram, Redhills and Chembarambakkam lakes, was at 97 Mcft against the combined storage of 11,527 Mcft, which is less than 1 per cent storage. In this scenario, the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) has stopped drawing water from Cholavaram and Chembarambakkam. However, water managers are tapping trickling water from Poondi and Redhills by installing motor pumps and digging outlet canals.

CMWSSB data says, Poondi and Redhills have a storage of 85 Mcft and 9 Mcft respectively, while Cholavaram and Chembarambakkam have storage of 2 Mcft and 1 Mcft respectively.

On May 26, 2004, the lakes had a combined capacity of 143.60 Mcft storage. “Water levels had gone down several times. But going beyond 100 Mcft that too before June has never happened in 20 years,” a CMWSSB source said. On the same day in 2018, the lakes had a combined storage of 3,054 Mcft.

“Chennai is receiving 180 MLD water from Veeranam lake and works are underway to dig nine borewells in Neyveli basin. This will provide 10 MLD to the city. Around 60 MLD will come from mines in Neyveli and Paravanar River,” an official said. The board has also made arrangements to draw water from agriculture wells around Poondi and Thamaraipakkam areas. Pipe laying and other work is under way to tap water from Erumaiyur quarries, Rettai Eri, Ayanambakkam and Perumbakkam lakes.