6 months ago
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Shutters of the Red Hills reservoir, 1 of the cardinal drinking h2o sources of Chennai, were opened for the 4th clip this monsoon connected Friday to support an capable flood buffer. This follows forecast connected anticipation of dense rainfall implicit Chennai and its surrounding districts connected November 17.
The Water Resources Department initially released astir 300 cubic feet per 2nd (cusecs) of h2o connected Friday day and stepped up the discharge to 600 cusecs aboriginal by evening. The WRD officials noted that the measurement was being taken to modulate the inflow and outflow and equilibrium a steadfast retention successful the reservoir.
At present, the retention successful the reservoir stood astatine 2,900 cardinal cubic feet (mcft), which is astir 88% of its capacity. “We privation to support the h2o level astatine 19 feet and bring down the retention by 6% - 7% to accommodate dense inflow during aggravated downpour successful the coming week and trim the anticipation of flooding successful the downstream areas,” said an official.
While a minimal h2o discharge successful 2 different reservoirs — Chembarambakkam and Poondi — has been maintained during this monsoon, the Red Hills reservoir has required predominant shutter operations. Officials noted that h2o discharge was regulated based connected the inflow, and the shutters of Red Hills reservoir were closed whenever inflow dropped.
Nearly 600 mcft of floodwater has been fto into the surplus course, which joins the Ennore creek, since the archetypal clip the floodgates were opened connected October 15.
The Regional Meteorological Centre has forecast dense rainfall to instrumentality from November 16 nether the power of an precocious aerial cyclonic circulation that lies implicit southbound Sri Lanka and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal.
While delta districts volition initially person aggravated showers connected Sunday, much bluish districts, including Chennai, Tiruvallur and Cuddalore, person chances of dense downpour connected Monday. Isolated dense rainfall whitethorn proceed implicit Tiruvallur, Ranipet, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi and Kanniyakumari districts connected November 18.
In its outlook, the RMC has besides forecast anticipation of a debased unit country to signifier implicit the southeast Bay of Bengal astir November 21.
