More Krishna water soon, say PWD officials

The discharge from the Kandaleru reservoir to Tamil Nadu is likely to be doubled by Andhra Pradesh government. Sources in the Public Works Department (Water Resources Department) officials said that the preparatory works, particularly cleaning up of cofferdams, in Poondi reservoir was under way to as part of efforts to store the entire quantum that was being released by Andhra Pradesh Further, the PWD officials also expressed the hope that the Andhra Pradesh government might accept TN’s request to double the quantum of release from the Kandaleru reservoir. 

According to PWD officials, the Andhra Pradesh irrigation department, as per agreement, released Krishna water on Monday evening from Kandaleru reservoir and 200 cubic feet per second was expected to reach the zero point at Uthukottai in a couple of days. Officials added the excess water from Poondi reservoir would be diverted to Red Hills and Chembarambakkam lakes, the key sources of water supply to Chennai city. A senior PWD Engineer, (Krishna Water Supply-Division I) said “we are aware that water has crossed 75 km out of 152-kmlong canal. The canal had dried up as there had been no flow in the recent past.  So, the pace of flow is not good. We learnt that the volume of Krishna water supply can be increased to 400 cubic feet in the coming days and the officials concerned are monitoring the level.” 

Ashokan, Executive Engineer, Kosasthalaiyar Basin, told DTNext “We have removed cofferdams in the reservoir to store water to the full level in Poondi facility and the excess will be released into canals leading to Red Hills. “Works like strengthening of bunds and desilting in some places of the reservoir are being done at present.” 

He added that the desilting works in Krishna canal had already been undertaken to avoid breaches and as a safety measure the canals were being monitored continuously. “Serious action will be taken against those who try to tap water from the canal,” the official warned. Meanwhile, the Chennai Metro Water Supply and Sewage Board (CMWSSB) has taken up the laying of 900 mm dia pumping main for transmission of water from the proposed Thervoy Kandigai reservoir to Krishna canal for a length of 17 km is in full swing and is likely to be completed soon at the cost of Rs 93.77 crore. Sathyamoorthy, Chief Engineer, metro water treatment, said “Pipelines are being laid and we can draw the excess quantity from the reservoir at any time when there is a need.”

POONDI RESERVOIR 

Full Tank Level 140.00 (ft) 

Current storage 123.37 (ft) 

Capacity 3.23 tmc 

CHEMBARAMBAKKAM 

Full Tank Level 85.40 ft 

Current Level 71.90 

REDHILLS 

Full Tank Level 50.20 

Current Level 33.21