The Water Resources Department (WRD) is planning to carry out flushing of the Cooum river in a few days with the surplus water from Poondi reservoir.
The water level in the reservoir has improved considerably in the recent rain and the authorities decided to use the surplus to clean the waterway. “Instead of letting out the excess water into the sea, we have decided to divert the water to Cooum and clean a 30-km stretch of the waterway,” an official of WRD said.
Usually during good monsoon, water is transmitted to Chembarampakkam reservoir through a 25-km link canal from Poondi and from there any excess joins the Adyar river. This year, it has been decided to divert a portion of water discharged to Chembarampakkam when the water level at Poondi touches 34 feet.
At present, the level is 33.49 ft. The diversion would happen at the 14th km point of the link canal near Korattur anicut (between Tiruvallur and Poonamallee), an official said.
The flushing of the Cooum river would help to improve its water quality and recharge groundwater in the adjoining areas. At present, the Poondi reservoir is receiving about 600 cubic feet per second (cusecs). The department had carried out similar operation during December last year.
The vents of Chembarampakkam reservoir may also be opened in a few days if the catchment areas receive heavy spell of rain. The water level is 21 feet against its full level of 24 feet.
Rainfall predicted
Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department said that the city would experience a few spells of rain or thundershower on Thursday as the trough of low pressure extending from Comorin area to west central Bay off south Andhra coast persists.
On Wednesday, the observatories in Nungambakkam and Meenambakkam recorded marginal rainfall.
For the 24 hours ending 8 a.m. on Wednesday, the rainfall recorded in Tambaram was 58.4 mm, followed by 36 mm at Meenambakkam and 29 mm in Nungambakkam.
In the southern suburbs of Chennai, the continuous downpour caused severe problems to road-users as stretches of important roads have either been badly damaged or remain under water.
Due to poor quality of road restoration works as part of the ongoing underground drainage project in Tambaram Municipality, streets in residential localities are in a deplorable condition.
For pedestrians, it is a harrowing experience walking past the Tambaram railway level crossing to reach Velachery Main Road and Grand Southern Trunk Road.
They have little option but to wade through stagnant water mixed with sewage near the level crossing (which has been closed after the completion of the road over bridge).
M. Karikalan, Tambaram Municipality Chairman, inspected the work to bale out stagnant water from subway adjacent the level-crossing on Wednesday.
Obstructions were also cleared around the stormwater drain along GST Road.
Kancheepuram
The Kancheepuram District Disaster Management Plan was initiated to prevent any kind of calamity during the north east monsoon, according to Collector A.Sivashanmuga Raja.
Speaking to reporters , he said officials of all government departments were briefed and asked to be on high alert. Revenue officials and staff of the Block Development Offices, in addition to town panchayats and municipalities, were specifically instructed to monitor lakes and tanks.
The Collector made an inspection of Selaiyur and Nanmangalam lakes in addition to other waterbodies in Tambaram, Alandur and Sholinganallur taluks in the southern suburbs of Chennai along with Environment Minister andTambaram MLA.
Tiruvallur
Tiruvallur Collector Ashish Chatterjee has directed officials to check bunds of lakes and tanks in the district for leakage and initiate steps to strengthen weak bunds.
Addressing a meeting of officials chaired by Handlooms Minister B.V. Ramana at Tiruvallur on Wednesday, the Collector also instructed the officials to intimate general public well in advance in case they decide to release excess water from lakes.
He asked them to release excess water, if necessary, only during daytime.
