Gates of Chembarambakkam reservoir opened after 5 years

After almost 5 years, the shutters of the Chembarambakkam reservoir had been opened on Wednesday as a precautionary measure to forestall inundation, significantly within the upstream stretches.

From the preliminary 1,000 cubic toes per second launched from the reservoir at midday, the Water Resources Department (WRD) launched 5,000 cusecs into the Adyar river by means of the 14 shutters round 6 p.m.

With a gentle improve in influx to just about 5,000 cusecs (cubic toes per second) and to take care of the water degree near 21.98 ft., the Water Resources Department determined to discharge the water with flood warnings.

The reservoir’s storage stood at 3,115 million cubic toes (mcft) in opposition to its capability of 3,645 mcft. It could also be recalled that Krishna water was being diverted to the waterbody till a couple of days in the past. It acquired rainfall of about 10 cm until 6 p.m. on Wednesday.

Officials of the WRD famous that the measure to open the floodgates forward of time was taken to keep away from any backflow within the upstream stretches or the Adyar river’s tributaries. The launch can be steadily raised at 500 cusecs per hour relying on the influx of rainwater.

The WRD had elevated the water launch to six,000 cusecs at 8 p.m. on Wednesday. Officials famous that the Adyar river carried a move of 13,000 cusecs, which included flood water from different tanks and upstream. The water launch might be maintained at 7,000 cusecs by night time and once more regulated by Thursday. “We expect the river to carry up to 20,000 cusecs by Thursday morning, given the heavy rainfall over the catchment areas due to Cyclone Nivar,” an official mentioned.

The storm surge anticipated because of the Cyclone Nivar might not have a significant impression on the Adyar river and isn’t prone to result in flooding. Areas similar to Rayappa Nagar and Mahalakashmi Nagar in (*5*), Mudichur and West Tambaram had localised flooding of 2-2.5 toes on Wednesday.

It can be regulated until Thursday, and the objective was to take care of the reservoir’s water degree at 22 ft., which was 2 ft. under its whole capability.

“Only eight lakes out of 25 waterbodies upstream of the Chembarambakkam reservoir have filled up so far. Surplus from a few tanks upstream are draining into the waterway and it may be carrying 7,000 cusecs on Wednesday. The Adyar river has been widened to carry about 70,000 cusecs safely at Saidapet, and the maximum capacity is now nearly 1 lakh cusecs,” an official mentioned.

According to Kancheepuram collector Mageswari Ravikumar, water launch from Chembarambakkam reservoir was elevated to just about 9,000 cusecs of water round 10.30 p.m. equivalent to the influx and heavy rains.

Residents needn’t worry flooding within the Adyar river as water launch was being finished in a managed method, taking into consideration flood water draining from the upstream reaches too, officers mentioned.

Flood warning was issued to low-level areas alongside the river and surplus programs similar to Kundrathur, Sirukalathur, Tirumudivakkam, Tiruneermalai and within the metropolis limits. The WRD additionally discharged water from tanks within the tail-end of the river similar to Manimangalam and Nandivaram to take care of their degree 2 ft. decrease than capability.

An advisory of the Central Water Commission famous that the Adyar river might carry a move of 16,000 cusecs-18,000 cusecs close to Saidapet in opposition to 1 lakh cusecs in 2015 flood resulting from intense rains on Wednesday. The two different main reservoirs have been getting regular inflows too.

Other reservoirs

While the Poondi reservoir, principally will get Krishna water as influx, the Red Hills reservoir acquired an influx of 2,500 cusecs at 6 p.m. and its water degree stood at 18 ft. in opposition to a complete capability of 21.20 ft.

Sources mentioned the shutters of the Red Hills reservoir is also opened on Thursday, however solely relying on the influx and rainfall. Initially, about 500 cusecs could also be launched. The water degree could also be maintained at 20 ft.

However, the Poondi reservoir wants one other 1,000 mcft to refill and the influx is predicted to rise double from the current 2,000 cusecs until Thursday morning. There weren’t many probability for the floodgates to be opened, an official mentioned.

In Kancheepuram and Chengalpattu, 148 tanks of the entire 909 tanks maintained by the WRD have stuffed up to this point. Nearly 254 tanks have reached above 75% of their storage capability. The water degree on the Pillaipakkam tank, which drains into the Chembarambakkam reservoir, has reached 12.08 ft. in opposition to at whole capability of 13.20 ft. The water degree of one other tank in Sriperumbudur, positioned upstream of Chembarambakkam, has touched 16.19 ft. in opposition to 17.90 ft. and is being monitored by the WRD.