The state has received a record 2.4 tmcft of water from AP since May 8
The state has received a record 2.4 tmcft of water from AP since May 8
The Water Resources Department (WRD) has written to the Andhra Pradesh government to suspend Krishna Jal Supply from Kandaleru reservoir will be from July 1 as two reservoirs in the city are full.
Officials said Chennai has received around 2.4 tmcft. of Krishna left the water From Kandaleru reservoir in Andhra Pradesh from May 8. It was one of the highest volumes to be achieved within a short span of time.
On Monday, 610 cusecs (cubic feet per second) of Krishna water, the entry point into Tamil Nadu, was recorded at Uthukottai in Tiruvallur district’s Uthukottai.
However, the department has urged the Andhra Pradesh authorities to temporarily suspend the Krishna water release as the state does not have facilities to store further water along the reservoirs at Chembarambakkam and Red Hills.
Though Poondi’s reservoir holds only 1.3 tmcft of water, which is about a third of its capacity, the department is not keen on increasing its storage.
The shutter gates of Chembarambakkam reservoir were opened last week to release water as a precautionary measure in case of heavy rains in the city. The department released a small amount of water on Monday.
The recently constructed Theravayakandigai-Kannankottai reservoir is full. “We have asked the Andhra Pradesh authorities to start releasing water from September next year,” said an official.
Officials said that work is being done to rebuild the sluice that releases water to the Institute of Hydraulics and Hydrology, Poondi. “We plan to replace the reservoir shutter. Once these works are completed the storage in the water body will be increased,” said an official.
The combined storage in five reservoirs, including Cholavaram, stood at 8.3 tmcft, which is 71% of their capacity as on Monday. With this, water supply to Chennai could continue for eight to nine months, officials said.