The Tamil Nadu Government has approved an Rs 130-crore proposal to enhance the storage capacity of Chembarambakkam lake a major source of water supply to Chennai.

According to an official press release, the move is part of measures to strengthen the water supply to the city, which is dependent on the monsoons. Four more lakes including the Cholavaram, Porur, Ayanambakkam and Nemam lakes are to be desilted and deepened.

Storage capacity

The Chembarakambakkam lake with a capacity of 3,645 million cubic feet, is one of the major reservoirs that supply water to the city. The proposed work will add a capacity of 568 million cubic feet.

The other major reservoirs are the Cholavaram, Poondi and Redhills.

The Government has sanctioned Rs 50 lakh to increase the storage capacity of Cholavaram lake to 1,080 million cubic feet from the present 881 million cubic feet.

Other works include Rs 20 crore to deepen the Porur lake by a metre or two to take the storage capacity to 70 million cubic feet; Rs 30 crore to deepen the area around the Ayanambakkam lake by two metres to take the storage capacity to 314 million cubic feet and strengthen the lake shore; and Rs 79.50 crore to increase the storage capacity of Nemam lake to 577 million cubic feet.

This is in line with the State Government's announcement in the Assembly to increase the 11 tmcft of water storage facility available for Chennai by 4 tmcft at a cost of Rs 1,851 crore.

The four major reservoirs catering to the city's needs hold about 6,548 mcft water in addition to water sourced from Veeranam Lake and the Krishna River scheme.

The Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board, the water utility, is maintaining a daily supply of 710 million litres to households, 80 million litres to industrial units, bulk consumers, commercial establishments and local bodies adjacent to the city, according to official figures.

>rbalaji@thehindu.co.in

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