Southern States - Tamil Nadu-Chennai

Groundwater level improves considerably

By T. Ramakrishnan

CHENNAI June 22. A year after the worst spell of water crisis in recent times, the groundwater level in the city has improved considerably with the depth in nearly two-thirds of the city remaining at 2.6 to 4.8 metres in May, the peak summer.

Compared with the readings of last August, almost the entire city witnessed a rise in the groundwater table. The increase varied from about a metre in areas such as Alwarpet to 4.2 metres in Tondiarpet.

The conclusions were arrived at after perusing the readings taken by the Central Ground Water Board in 18 city locations.

Villivakkam and Tondiarpet in the north, Chepauk, Mandaveli and Alwarpet in the central part, and K.K.Nagar and Taramani in the south were among the localities where the level was fairly better than the rest of the city.

However, Velachery, Besant Nagar, Kodambakkam, T.Nagar and Saidapet were witnessing a ``rapid fall'' in groundwater level. As per the readings of the last month, the level in T.Nagar had gone down to as low as 8.8 metres, it was 7.32 metres in Velachery, 7.2 metres in Kodambakkam and 6.6 metres in Besant Nagar.

Perambur and Aminjikkarai continued to be the ``danger zones'' as the wells there were dry this year also.

The only area where the groundwater table saw a fall this time was Taramani where the table stood at a depth of 3.53 metres in August 2001 against 3.85 metres last month.

As urbanisation goes on in a haphazard manner, the implementation of the concept of rainwater harvesting in a more sustained manner becomes crucial to rejuvenate the groundwater resources.

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Stories in this Section

• `Green squad' receives more complaints about civic issues
• Health infrastructure on the verge of collapse
• Ph.D student found dead
• Public cautioned
• Concern over growing abuse of animals
• Groundwater level improves considerably
• Corpn. asks Govt. to fill vacancies in dispensaries
• HC orders eviction of Slaterpuram huts

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