The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Groundwater level up in well fields

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 19, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Groundwater level up in well fields

T. Ramakrishnan

It is an indication of substantial improvement in groundwater table Thanks to heavy rain and Veeranam water

CHENNAI : Groundwater level of well fields, which supplied to Chennai an average 100 million litres a day (MLD) in the drought years of 2003 and 2004, is almost touching the 1996 level, an indication of substantial improvement in the groundwater table.

According to the reading by Metrowater taken this month, the average groundwater level of the well fields, an agglomerate of deep borewells in the Araniar-Kosathalaiyar basin and situated on north and north-western fringes of the city, was 23.5 metres. Exactly 10 years ago, the average level was 20.19 metres.

The last decade saw greater exploitation of groundwater, both for irrigation and drinking water requirements, and the spell of deficient annual rainfall for most of the period since 1999. But 2005 witnessed not only the arrest of the falling groundwater level but also a significant rise in the level.

Heavy rainfall and availability of water from the Veeranam tank were among the factors that contributed to this development. (The well fields are located at Poondi, Tamaraipakkam, Flood Plains, Kannigaiper, Panjetty and Minjur).

A perusal of the groundwater levels for the last 10 years location-wise reveals that water can be struck sooner at Tamaraipakkam.

The February 2006 reading points to the availability of water at the depth of 14.8 metres at this place. At Panjetty, the level is 36.5 metres and at Minjur,it is 23.8 metres.

Traditionally, Tamaraipakkam has been better placed in view of its proximity to the Kosasthaliayar river and the presence of the Valliyur checkdam and the Tamaraipakkam anicut.

A bright picture

However, a comparison of the present levels with those of 2005 reveals a bright picture.

In February 2005, the levels for Tamaraipakkam, Panjetty and Minjur were 34.9 metres, 41.5 metres and 34.5 metres.The average rise in the levels in all the six places in the last one year was 11.2 metres.

Notwithstanding the improvement in the water levels, the notion that the well fields are stretched beyond a point is gaining ground among water experts and sections of the public.

In 2003 and 2004, when Chennai needed water from any source desperately, water managers turned to these areas as they had been utilising them as an important source for over two decades.

However, there was a stiff resistance from the locals.Water experts emphasise that a ceiling has to be fixed on the drawal of water from these areas.

This stipulation applies not only to the drinking water needs but also to agriculture, they say.

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