In disappointing news for a parched Chennai, the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has ruled out rains for the city. In a press conference on Monday, N Puviarasan, Director of the Agromet Advisory Service Unit at the RMC said, “A low pressure has formed over the Indian Ocean and south central Bay of Bengal. It is likely to move northwest and intensify into a deep low pressure. On account of this, south Bay of Bengal is likely to be rough. Fisherfolk are advised not to venture into the sea near central Bay of Bengal and adjoining Indian Ocean for the next three days.” With regard to Chennai, he said that the skies would be dry.
According to the All India Weather Forecast Bulletin issued by the National Weather Forecasting Centre on December 10 at 4.30 pm, the low pressure area is likely to become more marked during the next 48 hours. “It is likely to intensify further into a depression during subsequent 24 hours and move towards north Tamil Nadu and adjoining south Andhra coasts,” said the bulletin.
The rains giving the city a miss is a cause for concern since city has depleting level of water storage.
On Monday, city-based weather blogger Pradeep John, who runs the popular Facebook page Tamil Nadu Weatherman, wrote, “Chennai City has got only 380 mm against normal of 850 mm till 31st December. The Chennai Water Supply lakes are having 15% storage with Chembarabakkam even worse with less then 5% storage.”
According to the Office of the Chief Engineer of the Water Resources Department, drinking water supply in the city is below still level at the Cholavaram reservoir. Levels at the Poondi, Red Hills, Chembarambakkam reservoirs and the Veeranam stood at 21.31 ft(380 million cubic feet), 8.79 ft(1098 million cubic feet), 4.12 ft(157 million cubic feet) and 7.30 ft(1164 million cubic feet).
Water storage and flow data on 10th Dec’18 pic.twitter.com/PUX9e3iXHk
— TN SDMA (@tnsdma) December 10, 2018
Source: The News Minute