Desilting of Sholavaram lake after December 15

According to an authority attached to the Water Resources Department (WRD), the work is likely to be started after December 15. The total capacity of the reservoir is 1,081 mcft. “It will take at least three years to complete the desilting works. The WRD has also sent a proposal to desilt other three reservoirs too. We are awaiting the Government Orders to carry out works at the other storage places,” he added. “

The excavated sand will be auctioned with an aim to generate more revenue for the department,” he said. The other three reservoirs Poondi, Chembarambakkam, Red Hills and some more waterbodies will be taken up under this project.

The PWD initiated the desilting of four reservoirs at an estimated cost of Rs 50 Crores to tide over the water crisis looming over the city. A top official said, “Though we have taken several initiatives across various waterbodies, this is a huge initiative for the WRD”.