Mon Dec 02 19:30:38 UTC 2024: **Chennai Reservoirs Overflowing After Cyclone Fengal; Water Diverted to Boost Supply**
**CHENNAI, December 3, 2024** – Chennai’s water woes appear to be over, at least for the coming summer. Torrential rains brought by Cyclone Fengal have filled the city’s reservoirs to 58% capacity, an 11% increase since Saturday. This has prompted the Water Resources Department (WRD) to take the unprecedented step of diverting surplus water from the Araniyar river to the Poondi reservoir, bolstering Chennai’s water supply.
The Red Hills and Chembarambakkam reservoirs are at 83% and 75% capacity, respectively. A total of 1,235 million cubic feet of water has been added to Chennai’s five major reservoirs in just two days. The city currently receives 1,045 million litres of water daily.
The WRD is diverting approximately 200 cubic feet per second (cusecs) of water from the Araniyar river to the Poondi reservoir, which is currently at less than 30% capacity. This water is being channeled through the Kandaleru-Poondi canal. Poondi reservoir is also receiving water from the Kosasthalaiyar river and Krishna water from Andhra Pradesh.
The improved water situation is a result of the heavy rainfall, with nearly 529 of the 1,644 water bodies in Chennai and its surrounding districts reaching full capacity. An additional 388 tanks in Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, and Chengalpattu districts have also overflowed since Saturday.
Officials are optimistic that Chennai will not face water shortages in the coming summer months, citing the current reservoir levels as significantly better than the 83% capacity recorded on the same day last year.
First Piper 