Groundwater in Chennai down over the past year
Posted on: 18/Jun/2013 2:40:30 PM
Chennai Metro Water has said that the groundwater table has reduced by 0.6 metres in the past year. The reason is the lack of rainwater and heavy extraction.
‘The groundwater table came down by as much as 0.30 metres in the last one month alone due to lack of rains and heavy use. The city has sandy, clay-filled and rocky terrains and the water table is different in each of the areas. The sandy area comprises Tiruvatiyur, Tondiarpet, Triplicane, Mylapore, Tiruvamiyur, Sowcarpet among others… In these areas one can strike water at a maximum of 6.20 to 7.20 metres. In areas like Triplicane, Mylapore and Besant Nagar one can get water from depth of 3 to 4.5 metres… The rainwater harvesting structures installed during the AIADMK regime in 2003 has helped increase the groundwater level in the city. As per a Metro Water monitoring report in 2011, compared to July 2003, the groundwater level and quality have increased after June 2011 in the city. The government is also planning an audit of rain water harvesting systems in the city’, said a Metro Water official.
