Seasonal rivers Palar, Cheyyar in spate too

Chennai: Following heavy rains in north Tamil Nadu last week, two seasonal rivers Palar and Cheyyar that originate from Thiruvannamalai and Vellore recorded floods after several years. As a preventive measure, Kancheepuram district collector P. Ponniah sounded an alert for Kancheepuram and low lying areas of south Chennai.

According to PWD sources, Uthiramerur anaicut received 4,500 cusecs of water from Cheyyar river and about 3,000 cusecs of water drained into the sea.

Similarly, the Palar river that drains surplus water through Chngalpet - Mamandur also was in spate on Saturday. Revenue authorities sounded an alert to villagers and urged the residents of Keelkuthur, Pallimedu, Kamarajapuram and Angambakkam not to bathe in rivers and avoid visiting the river banks. The motorists in Kancheepuram, Krishnagiri, Vellore and Thiruvannamalai were also warned not to use causeways located in low-lying areas.

Meanwhile, Tambaram Padappai Neelamangalam lake, spread across 100 acres, breached, creating tension among local residents. The breach also inundated about 50 acres of farmland. Arterial Maduranthagam lake also brimm-ed for the second consecutive time and the surplus was released to reach the north Buckingham canal.

“The downstream lakes, particularly Maduranthagam, have been steadily receiving inflow for the past one month and the surplus is drained into sea”, said PWD area engineer Gururaj adding that the lake has brimmed after two years.
However, there was not much inflow of fresh water into the Chennai reservoirs on Saturday. Poondi and Cholavaram which did not receive an inflow of water till Thursday started receiving inflow and Saturday increasing the overall storage of city reservoirs close to 5.5 TMC against the total capacity of 11 TMC.  The intermittent rains in Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram brought an inflow of above 1,000 cusecs to city reservoirs.