The shutters of Red Hills reservoir were opened on Monday afternoon as the water body received heavy inflow from its catchment areas.
Officials of the Water Resources Department said the reservoir received about 3,000 cubic feet per second (cusecs) of water from its catchment area spread over 59.57 sq. km. “We released about 700 cusecs from the two shutters around 2 p.m. Both the shutters have a combined capacity to discharge 7,500 cusecs. The discharge may be stepped up depending on the increase in the inflow,” said an official. One cusec of water is equal to 28.3 litres.
People flocked the area and waited to take a look at the water gushing out from the shutters as news spread about water release. Several of them also drove to the top of the bund to witness the reservoir brimming with water and took photographs. S. Dhanalakshmi, a resident of Red Hills, said “My children who are on leave today wanted to see the water being let out from the reservoir. I did not expect that police would be here to regulate the crowd.”
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The water released from Red Hills reservoir would travel through 11 villages, including Grandline, Vadakarai, Vadaperumbakkam, Kosapur, Mathur before reaching Ennore creek.
Officials of WRD said the level at Poondi reservoir is being maintained at 34.6 feet against its capacity of 35 ft. About 3,000 cusecs of water is being released through four of the 16 shutters into Kosasthalaiyar river.
As the inflow to Chembarampakkam reservoir has doubled to 2,700 cusecs, the department plans to open shutters on Tuesday morning.
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The water level has reached 20.5 ft against its capacity of 22 ft. Flood warning has been issued to those living along the Adyar river in view of steady inflow into Chembarampakkam reservoir.
Residents of Jagannathapuram, Vazhuthalambedu and Thirumudivakkam located along the river have been asked to be prepared to get shifted to safe places.
Areas such as Valasaravakkam and Porur would get affected only if the surplus water from Porur lake is let out.
Labour Minister T.M.Anbarasan inspected the water bodies in Madurantakam and Chembarampakkam and issued directions to the District Revenue and Public Works Department officials to take precautionary steps.