Chennai: CM Palaniswami says efforts paid off as water level in reservoirs break 17-year record – Times Now

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami in a Twitter post on Tuesday said that the government’s efforts to de-silt water bodies in the state have shown good results as the water level in four reservoirs and Veeranam lake broke a 17-year-old record.

In a Twitter post, he said, “Rejenuvation of water bodies has always been of utmost priority to us. Our sincere commitment and consistent efforts in desilting water bodies across Tamilnadu are showing good results. Let us all work together to improve the water storage level further. #WaterSurplusTN.”

Over the last two months, rains and inflow from the Krishani and Cauveri rivers have ensured a 48 per cent storage level in four reservoirs and Veeranam lake on Monday. Water managers in the city say that level will help meet the water demands till December.

“We have Krishna water in Red Hills and Chembarambakkam. We can meet water needs till December provided we supply 700 million litres a day (mld),” an official said.

The 48 per cent combined storage level in the four reservoirs and Veeranam on July 25, this year was the second-best since 2003, weather blogger Pradeep John said. It was 49 per cent on the same day in 2011 and 44 per cent in 2008. The figure was just one per cent the same day last year.

Veerman lake, which has a capacity of 1,465 million cubic feet, has been full for the last three days after water from the Mettur dam was released, a Metrowater official said. The city gets 180 mld water from Veeranam.

The closure of companies due to the lockdown and use of treated greywater by industries has also helped.

Head of Geology Department in the Anna University Professor L Elango said that there was a 1-2.5 m rise in levels as compared to July 2019. “In July 2019, it was 5.5 m. This year, it is 6.5 m,” he said as reported by TOI.