Kandaleru goes dry, inflow from Krishna reduced in Poondi

Public Works Department (WRD) officials said that the inflow at zero point has steadily reduced giving an ominous signal for water managers. 

After promising to release 2.5 tmc Krishna water to Chennai, the AP government has so far released 2.14 tmc. 

“We cannot start blame the AP irrigation officials for reducing water level, as, they still release water. Further, water level in Kandaleru reservoir is fast declining and in such a condition, there is a possibility that water may be stopped within a week,” said a senior engineer, Kosasthalaiyar river sub-basin. 

The engineer also said storage in Poondi reservoir would raise and touch one tmc of water within a couple of days, as level on Monday morning stood at 890 million cubic feet. The engineer pointed out that while level in the zero point was 575 cusecs on Friday, it was reduced to 250 cusecs on Sunday and there was no hindrance in flowing water in Kandaleru-Poondi (KP) canal. 

Meanwhile, a source in TN PWD department said “As former Chief Minister O Paneerselvam met his AP counterpart N Chandrababu Naidu for demanding water release, there is a possibility for current CM Edappadi K Palanisamy, who also holds PWD portfolio, would meet Naidu to seek more water.” 

Meanwhile, officials at Chennai Metro Water Board said “The present water level in the lakes and other sources will be more than enough to meet Summer. So, it is wrong to conclude that City will face drinking water crisis”.