Chembarambakkam lake: Water inflow rises sharply

With the northeast monsoon intensifying across Tamil Nadu, water inflow into Chembarambakkam Lake, a key drinking water source for Chennai, has risen sharply. Official reports indicate the inflow increased from 1,800 cubic feet per second (cusecs) yesterday to 2,170 cusecs today, with the water level steadily rising to 20.84 feet, against the lake’s full capacity of 24 feet. The lake currently holds approximately 2.8 TMC (thousand million cubic feet) of water out of 3.64 TMC capacity. To prevent overflow and ensure safety, authorities have started releasing 100 cusecs of surplus water per second from Chembarambakkam Lake. This reservoir supplies drinking water to several key areas in southern and central Chennai, such as Ambattur, Anna Nagar, Teynampet, Kodambakkam, Guindy, Adyar, Velachery, Valasaravakkam, and Alandur, along with surrounding municipalities, industrial estates, and residential suburbs.Officials are closely monitoring the inflow and water level amid continuous rainfall, taking necessary precautions to manage the surplus water release and minimize the risk of flooding in nearby low-lying areas. The situation is under constant review to adjust water release based on weather and inflow patterns to safeguard the city’s water supply and protect residents. @@