Monitor water position, plan release, CM tells officials

Chennai: Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Monday directed the officials to closely monitor the rising water level in Chembarambakkam lake and plan water release without causing inundation in low-lying areas. Inspecting the lake, which is also one of the primary sources of drinking water for Chennai, the chief minister told the Water Resources Department officials that surplus water release should be done only in a gradual and orderly manner. The water release should be planned in such a way that the flood-prone areas of Chennai city in the lower reaches of the Adyar River are not affected. He also instructed the officials that prior to releasing water, due notice should be given to the people in the lower areas.

The storage level in the lake should be monitored in consultation with the Revenue Department, police, Greater Chennai Corporation and the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board. The rain-fed Chembarambakkam, together with other crucial waterbodies such as Puzhal (Red Hills), Poondi, and Cholavaram, meet the daily drinking water requirements of Chennai and its neighbourhood. As of Monday, the water level in Chembarambakkam Lake is 14.76 feet against the full level of 24 feet, and this is about 41 percent of the total capacity, according to a release here.

Currently, it has an inflow of 150 cusecs and a discharge of 208 cusecs. The chief minister inspected the sluice gates, too. Minister for Rural Development and Water Resources N Anand, Revenue Minister K A Sengottaiyan, Chief Secretary M Sai Kumar, Secretary, Water Resources Department Prashant M Vadnere, Kanchipuram district Collector T Sneha, Chief Engineer of WRD, Chennai Zone, M Janaki and senior officials were present during the inspection.

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