Monsoon showers raise hopes for dry reservoirs

Last year, the water level in the reservoir was 853 mcft against the total capacity of 3231 mcft on the same day. 

Krishna water flowing into the Poondi reservoir was stopped towards the end of October after water was supplied for a month from the Kandaleru reservoir. Immediately, the Water Resources Department (WRD) ceased the supply to meet the irrigation needs. 

Krishna water is considered significant to increase storage in the reservoirs that have gone bone dry. At present, the combined storage of four reservoirs — Poondi, Cholavaram Red Hills and Chembarambakkam — is 1,710 mcft against the capacity of 11,257 mcft. The PWD authorities divulged that the maintenance works carried out before the onset of monsoon helped in realizing optimum flow of Krishna water from the reservoir. 

“The works helped in minimizing the wastage to 5 per cent against the usual 10 per cent every year. We are planning to carry out the works every year in the future. 

The neighbouring state is also expecting rains to fill up their reservoirs,” said a senior official. 

Chennai has received nearly 1,600 mcft since release of water on September 22. Under the interstate agreement between Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, the State has to release 8000 mcft water between July and October. It was recalled that the AP government released water on September 22 after the State requested for it. 

Reservoir storage apart, the two desalination plants at Minjur and Nemmeli (both of 100 mld capacity) would be other assured water sources for the city.