The southwest monsoon has been bountiful in Tamil Nadu. After months of water shortage experienced across the state this summer, the latest announcement from the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board (TWAD) has come as welcome news.
The TWAD Board in a recent press release said that water table levels across the state have gone up by three metres on an average. The average water level is at 14.5 m below ground level now, compared to a depth of 17.5 m in May.
The water table levels across the state were being monitored through 1,286 wells twice a year – before the onset of the southwest and northeast monsoons, and after the monsoons.
While Vellore has witnessed the most increase in groundwater levels – from 21.3 m in May to 9.3 m now, Krishnagiri district has registered the least increase in groundwater levels – by 0.7 m – due to its hilly terrain.
Based on information from the Regional Meteorological Centre, the state had received 81.1 m rainfall last year as against the normal rainfall of 96 m. This year, the state has recorded 69.3 m rainfall so far.
This southwest monsoon, Chennai received 58.78 m rainfall as opposed to the normal rainfall of 43.96 m, according to the information provided on the Regional Meteorological Centre’s website.
The release also added that the TWAD Board has created 12,568 rainwater harvesting structures so far to help groundwater recharge. The Hindu reports that a total of 556 water supply schemes are being maintained by the TWAD Board, and that surface water from river beds contributed to nearly 52% of the drinking water needs in the state.
It was recently reported that the water levels in Chennai’s reservoirs that supply the city its drinking water have also begun to rise once again, after nearly two years. Except for Poondi, the three other lakes had run dry and had not a drop of water in them between July and September this year.
Source: The News Minute