Pulhal Lake, or Pulhal Aeri, sometimes spelled Puzhal lake and also known as the Red Hills Lake, is located in Red Hills, Chennai, India. It lies in Thiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu state. It is one of the two rain-fed reservoirs that supply water to Chennai City, the other one being the Chembarambakkam Lake and Porur Lake.

The full capacity of the lake is 3,300 million ft<sup>3</sup> (3.3 Tmc ft or 93446 million litres).

History

thumb|Board displaying Pulhal's capacity|215x215px|left

The Pulhal reservoir was built in 1876 during the British rule in Pulhal, Chennai (named Madras at the time). The reservoir was originally a small tank with a capacity of 500 million cubic feet (mcft) and two masonry weirs, built using locally available laterite stones, then functioned as surplus weirs to release excess water from the water body. Today, these masonry weirs are water-retaining structures as they have been replaced by two shutters. In 1997, the storage capacity of the water reservoir was increased to 3,300&nbsp;mcft and the depth to 21.20&nbsp;ft to cater to the drinking water needs of Chennai and also to store Penna river water received from Andhra Pradesh through Poondi Reservoir and the Sholavaram Tank. Until 2012, the Water Resources Department (WRD) has only taken up maintenance work worth of 500,000 every year.

Geography

There are two masonry weirs in the reservoir. One weir is 178&nbsp;m long and the other is 220&nbsp;m long and 15&nbsp;ft deep. The bund measures 5&nbsp;m and runs to a distance of 7&nbsp;km. The weirs have turned porous over the years.

Upgradation

2012 : Repairing process

alt=Repairing Pulhal bund roads in 2012|thumb|Repairing Pulhal bund roads in 2012

In June 2012, the WRD called for a tender for strengthening the reservoir at a cost of 101.6 million. Besides small repair to the shutters, filter arrangements on the slope of the bund will be made for 2&nbsp;km. The road on top of the bund will also be widened by 1&nbsp;m. The water level of the reservoir has been brought down to 10.46&nbsp;ft to take up the project. The water body receives 300 cubic feet per second (cusecs) from Poondi canal to supply to the city. On 2 December 2015 Pulhal lake has recorded water inflow of 9607(cusecs) and outflow of 5470(cusecs), Which was the highest inflow and outflow of reservoir's history.

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File:Puzhalshutters.jpg|Two shutters has been opened when the lake has reached full capacity

File:Jonestowerdry.jpg|Pulhal lake has low water level due to the presence of dry season

File:Puzhal Fisherman.jpg|Split islands has been seen on the middle of the Pulhal lake

File:Puzhal krishna river water project.jpg|Pulhal Krishna river water project display in the outer portion of the lake

File:Puzhal krishna river water project display in the outer portion of the lake.jpg|Electric motors are used to outlet the water in Pulhal lake.

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See also

  • Chembarambakkam Lake
  • Sholavaram tank
  • Poondi Reservoir
  • Water management in Chennai

References