The Hindu : Front Page : Surplus water from Poondi discharged

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Friday, Dec 21, 2007
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Surplus water from Poondi discharged

K. Lakshmi

— Photo: S. Thantoni

Gushing out: Water from the Poondi reservoir released into Kosasthalaiyar river on Thursday.

CHENNAI: Surplus water from the Poondi reservoir was released through four shutters into the Kosasthalaiyar river on Thursday, thanks to heavy inflow.

People from several areas flocked to the reservoir to take a look at the brimming lake and the discharge of surplus water. Following considerable inflow from catchment areas, including Pallipattu, due to rain, the reservoir level rose to 139.4 ft (maximum level 140 ft). Shutters were opened on Wednesday night to release about 1,000 cubic feet per second (cusecs). This was further increased to about 6,650 cusecs (which was received as inflow) through six shutters at 6 a.m. on Thursday.

However, the discharge was reduced to about 2,030 cusecs by 6 p.m. following a decrease in rainfall. The inflow, subsequently, decreased to about 5,000 cusecs. The storage in the Poondi reservoir was 2,975 million cubic feet (mcft) against the full capacity of 3,231 mcft.

A Public Works Department official said diversion to Cholavaram and Chembarambakkam reservoirs was not feasible as they were also fast filling up. While the storage of Cholavaram was 821 mcft (full capacity, 881 mcft), it was 3,021 mcft (3,645 mcft) in the Chembarambakkam reservoir. The storage at Red Hills reservoir, city’s prime source of drinking water supply, stood at 2,782 mcft (3,300 mcft). A Metrowater official said that the storage in the four reservoirs was built up by about 1,000 mcft in a day, sufficient to supply the city for nearly two months at the present rate of 645 million litres a day.

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