CHENNAI: If you are worried over possible flooding because of the current spell of heavy rainfall, relax. Flooding can’t happen as of now since the four big reservoirs in the city are just 20 per cent full, that is including in the 2,000 million cubic feet (mcft) the rains contributed to their combined storage level.
Barely a couple of months ago, the reservoirs had nearly gone dry and all they had was dead storage.
The inflow into the four reservoirs - Poondi, Sholavaram, Red Hills and Chembarambakkam - has given relief to water managers. However, they feel the capacity is not enough to last till the summer. Many water bodies in and around the city are also filling up.
Chembarambakkam has a storage of 749 mcft, which officials say will increase as it is receiving an inflow 876 cusecs. Red Hills has 747 mcft while Cholavaram and Poondi have 250 mcft and 368 mcft, respectively.
The total combined storage of the four reservoirs is 2.11 tmcft while it was 1.27 tmcft during the corresponding period last year. Even the ground water situation, which was grim during October, with levels in Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts dipping by 0.36 metres and 1.76 metre when compared to figures last year, are expected to increase with the rain.
