CHENNAI: Nineteen major tanks, a large number of smaller ones, their supply channels and surplus courses seem to have vanished from
North Chennai
’s topography. These missing waterbodies could be the reason why many localities here were flooded after the recent spate of showers.
Experts blamed the disappearance of these tanks and their channels on rapid urbanisation.
Former PWD assistant executive engineer
S Thirunavukkarasu
said five of the missing tanks were fairly large ones. The
Vyasarpadi
tank covered about 220 acres, Sembiam tank 51.25 acres,
Peravallur
tank 128.22 acres, Kodungaiyur tank 128.23 acres and
Perambur
large tank 52.16 acres. The smaller ones include Erukkancheri tank, Ayyaneri thangal, Kadapperi thangal, Perambur small tank, Perumal thangal and
Velleri
thangal.
Of the total 19 tanks, 11 form a chain allowing for a cascading effect wherein if one tank is full, excess water automatically flows into the next one.
The water holding capacity of just these 11 tanks came up to 191.25 mcft. During monsoon, rainwater from the 19 tanks would drain into Buckingham Canal, Cooum river and Otteri Nullah. This system helped prevent inundation in areas surrounding these waterbodies,
Thirunavukkarasu said. On average, the tanks would release about 7,000 cusecs into Buckingham Canal, 5,340 cusecs into Otteri Nullah and 3,900 cusecs into the Cooum during the monsoon.
However, indiscriminate encroachments have disrupted this system. Ambattur lake, Korattur lake and Madhavaram Retteri too form a chain. The channels that carry discharge from these waterbodies have been encroached upon and this led to flooding during the monsoon especially in North Chennai. The government too has taken to converting waterbodies into housing projects. For instance, Mogappair lake and Nolambur lake have been filled and housing projects set up, Thirunavukkarasu said.
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