16/12/2024
The Carrying Capacity of the Adyar River: A Scientific Perspective
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Recently, there has been considerable debate about the carrying capacity of the Adyar River. One perspective suggests that the river can handle flows of up to 1 lakh cusecs without causing flooding. Another view asserts that the river can safely accommodate only 20,000 cusecs, with flows between 20,000 and 40,000 cusecs leading to inundation in several areas along its course.
we have conducted a scientific analysis to evaluate these differing views.
The Adyar River: An Overview
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The Adyar River has two tributary arms. One originates from the Adhanur and Mudichur regions, carrying water from lakes in Adhanur, Mannivakkam, Manimangalam, Somangalam, Mudichur, Kuduvanchery, and Perungalathur. The other arm flows through Chembarambakkam, drawing water from the reservoirs at Sriperumbudur, Nemam, and Chembarambakkam. These arms merge at Thiruneermalai before the river flows through the city and drains into the Bay of Bengal.
Flow Contributions of Tributaries
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The Adhanur arm contributes the majority of the flow around 60%, while the Chembarambakkam arm accounts for the remaining 40%.
Carrying Capacity and Flood Risks
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Downstream of Thiruneermalai, the Adyar River can handle flows up to 20,000 cusecs without flooding. When this threshold is exceeded, localized flooding occurs, and flows of 40,000 cusecs cause flooding along many locations (as seen in the map of 40000 cusecs) along the river.
During extreme events, such as flows reaching 100,000 cusecs, the river basin suffers severe flooding, comparable to the devastating 2015 floods.
This scientific content has been developed by the Tamil Nadu Flood Modelling Team, comprising
(PhD graduates):
Dr. K.Sangeetha (IIT Madras)
Dr. N.Nithila Devi (Postdom)
Mr. Abinesh
Dr. J.Ruby (IIT Madras)
Mrs. Madhumathi (Anna university)
Dr. S.M.Kirthiga (IIT Madras)
Dr. Shankar (Anna univ)
and
Dr B.Sridharan (IIT Madras)