Shutters of reservoirs opened again

For the second time after the onset of the northeast monsoon, the shutters of three reservoirs that cater for Chennai's water supply were opened on Saturday.

Officials of the Water Resources Department (WRD) said release of water could not be avoided as the reservoirs in Poondi, Red Hills and Chembarampakkam received heavy inflow from the catchment areas due to the rain over the past few days. The quantum of discharge was increased following the downpour on Saturday.

The WRD had closed the floodgates of the reservoirs on Monday as there was not much rainfall in the city and its fringes. However, with the revival of monsoon spell, the shutters were opened again.

“We may have to further increase the water discharge into the Adyar river from Chembarampakkam reservoir and into Kosasthalaiyar river from Poondi as heavy inflow is anticipated,” said an official.

Maximum storage

The waterbodies have almost reached their maximum storage level. On Saturday evening, the combined storage of the four reservoirs, including the one at Cholavaram, stood at 9,141 million cubic feet against their capacity of 11,057 mcft.

The shutters have been opened more than once in the previous years too, the official added.

Meanwhile, residents of areas downstream of the waterbodies in Red Hills and Chembarampakkam voiced concern about flooding as water in the surplus channel and the Adyar river was almost to the brim.