Red Hills receives release from Poondi

According to officials, ever since the Andhra Pradesh Irrigation Department released Krishna water from the Kandaleru reservoir, the TN PWD officials have been making efforts to store it. Officials said the level in the Poondi reservoir is gradually increasing and they have diverted 102 cusecs to the Red Hills lake. The Chennai Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) would pump the water from here, treat it and then supply it as drinking water. 

A senior engineer, PWD, said “Before release of Krishna water, the level in the Poondi reservoir was merely 87 million cubic feet. However, as the inflow increased, the level has risen to 179 million cubic feet. We expect the storage to rise further,” 

The engineer added that the AP government has been steadily releasing 1,000 cusecs for the past one week and they have demanded the AP irrigation officials for further increase. 

Another engineer said that they may also have to divert the water to Chembarambakkam lake in a few days, if storage increases. “Chembarambakkam and Red Hills lakes are located in the low-lying areas and there will be free flow in the link canals,” the engineer said. He added that if the north-east monsoon provides good rain, they would then increase the quantum of release to these two lakes. At present, the Red Hills lake has 31.68 feet against 50.20 full tank capacity and the inflow is a mere 35 cusecs.

Meanwhile, the CMWSSB is gearing up to draw water from the Red Hills. “Water has reached Red Hills lake after travelling a distance of 41 km in the link canal. Once he level increases slightly, water will be pumped to the Kilpauk water treatment plant, after which drinking water will be supplied to the city,” said a CMWSSB official. 

He added that though they were hopeful of a bountiful north-east monsoon, Krishna water would definitely help mitigate drinking water scarcity in the city.