Chennai’s four reservoirs to be spruced up

City reservoirs, which served as the main drinking water source might get more attention with the Water Resources Department proposing to take up additional works to strengthen these waterbodies.

While the proposal to de-silt the reservoirs still remained on paper as it awaited State government’s nod, the department was preparing estimates to spruce up the lakes in Chembarambakkam, Poondi, Red Hills and Cholavaram.

With the restoration works of the waterbodies damaged during 2015 floods nearing completion, more works were being planned to be initiated under the World Bank funded Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project.

WRD officials said that work was on to repair the damaged sluice gates of Chembarambakkam reservoir and arrest the seepage. The waterbody in Chembarambakkam also contributed to irrigation needs of 2,145 acres of land located downstream in areas such as Kovur and Paraniputhur.

Similar works to strengthen the bund of three other lakes, which commenced last year at a cost of ₹13 crore, were also nearing completion. In the second phase of the project, the department planned to reconstruct the parapet wall and lay black-topped road on top of the bund. Once the funds were sanctioned under DRIP, work would be started to further strengthen the earthen bund of the reservoirs.

Blockages cleared

“We are also cleaning the blockages in the inlets to ensure free flow of water into the reservoirs. Moreover, vegetation in the supply channels bringing water to the lakes are also being cleaned ahead of the north-east monsoon,” an official said .

Though the combined storage of the four lakes remained dismal at 399 million cubic feet (mcft) against the 11,057 mcft, the recent rain spell has boosted storage that had hit rock bottom. Such sharp showers would recharge groundwater and help free flow of water in the coming months,officials said .