Daijiworld Media Network- Chennai
Chennai, May 8: In a significant development, Chennai is expected to receive Krishna River water from Andhra Pradesh by Friday morning, following a brief halt in supply due to necessary repairs along the water canal. According to officials from the Water Resources Department (WRD), the water, released from the Kandaleru reservoir, is anticipated to reach the Tamil Nadu border by Thursday evening or early Friday.
The temporary suspension of water supply had occurred as Andhra Pradesh authorities carried out repairs on the sluice gate of the Kandaleru-Poondi (KP) canal near Kalahasti. Krishna water is a crucial resource for Chennai, especially during the peak summer months when the demand for drinking water escalates.
The Poondi reservoir in Tiruvallur district, which stores Krishna water before transferring it to the Red Hills reservoir for the city's supply, had ceased receiving inflows since April 24. However, WRD officials confirmed that Andhra Pradesh resumed water release earlier this week, as per their commitment.
The Kandaleru reservoir currently holds approximately 44,000 thousand million cubic feet (tmcft) of water. To maintain a steady flow, the discharge was increased on Wednesday to 1,170 cubic feet per second (cusecs). However, due to a dry canal bed, the water movement has been slower than usual.
"The canal bed is dry, causing slower water movement. Currently, water has reached the 70-km mark between Venkatagiri and Kalahasti and must travel another 82 km to reach the Tamil Nadu border at Uthukottai," explained a senior WRD official.
To expedite the flow, Andhra Pradesh authorities have assured Tamil Nadu of further increasing the discharge rate. The water released through the KP canal also caters to the drinking and irrigation needs of areas like Tirupati and Kalahasti before reaching Chennai.
Since March 29, Krishna water has added 600 million cubic feet (mcft) to Chennai's reservoirs, providing a buffer for nearly a month. WRD officials expect to continue receiving the water supply until the end of June, aiding in the filling of key water bodies and maintaining a consistent daily supply.
Currently, Chennai Metrowater is supplying 1,087 million litres of water per day. The five reservoirs in Tiruvallur district, which are the primary sources of the city's drinking water, are at 64.4 percent of their combined capacity of 11,757 mcft. The Veeranam tank in Cuddalore district is also contributing to the city's water distribution.
This replenishment of Chennai's water resources is expected to provide significant relief, particularly during the high-demand summer months.