Chella Kulam Pond
ChellaKulam has been chosen for restoration by CMWSSB as part of the Sustainable Water Mission. This pond is located at the west end of the 2nd Main Road of Thirumal Nagar and the southern end of 6th Street, Vijayalakshmy Nagar. Since the pond was irregular in shape, area around the pond was modified. The quantity of water in the pond was very less. With no revetment, inlet or outlet, the bund was encroached partially with a transformer, a bore well, and a semi-permanent structure that served as toilet. Solid waste dumping and liquid waste diversion were found to be in practice from a few households located on the eastern side bund of the pond before the pond was restored under the Chennai Smart City project funds.
AREA:3237.4880 Sq.mtrs ZONE: 3 DIVISION:24
This pond is in Division 24 of Zone 3 and is located on the Thirumal Nagar 2nd Main Road. It is located at the west end of the road. The pond is in the southern end of Vijayalakshmy Nagar 6th Street. A newly constructed Vinai Theertha Vinayagar Temple is located to the Soth of the pond. The pond is located at North Latitude 138'17.60" and East Longitude 8011'48.89".
The pond is irregular in shape. The area around the pond is in the process of urbanisation. There was minor quantity of water in the pond during the time of survey. The soil is red lateritic gravelly in nature. There are no revetment, inlet or outlet to the pond. The bund is encroached partially with a transformer, a borewell and a semi permanent structure as toilets. Solid waste dumping is observed in the pond, though minor in quantity. Liquid waste diversion has just started from the few the few households located on the Eastern side bund of the pond. Steps have been provided from the temple side into the pond. Fencing is provided on the southern side of the pond along the temple side. There is no storm water drain available nearby. There is one borewell drilled on the southern side of the bund by TWAD board for water supply. Encroachment has just started on the Southern side of the bund as could be seen from the picture. e seen from the picture. Based on the Total Station Survey output, it is inferred that the total area of the pond is 3161.35 sq.m and the total length of the bund is 223.36m. The average depth of the pond is about 3m.
The imagery extracted from google earth on 21.03.2016 and 01.06.2002 is presented below shows the temple being constructed on the southern side of the pond encroaching the bund and water spread. Also the bund is encroached on the eastern side by transformer and by a few semi permanent structures.
Google Image of the pond as on 21.03.2016 (LEFT) and 01.06.2002 (RIGHT)
The actual volume stored in the tank during 1987 a normal rainfall year - after losses due to evaporation and recharge is given in the following graph.
The total storage of the tank in its present condition is estimated at 9,484.05 cu.m Based on this estimate, there will be water available in the pond for almost 117 days in a year. At no point of time, the pond overflows in a normal rainfall year. The total inflow to the tank in a normal rainfall year is estimated at 4,822.03 cu.m; the total groundwater recharge will be 3,419.22 cu.m. The estimate was made in an excess rainfall year to see the inflow and outflow status.
Based on this estimate, there will be water available in the pond for 268 days. The pond in its present volume does not over flows even in an excess rainfall period for the assumed catchment. The total inflow to the tank in an excess normal rainfall year is estimated at 6048.50 cu.m; the total groundwater recharge is 2080.3 cu.m.
Based on the field observations and inferences, followed by the data analysis, it could be inferred that the solid waste dumping, liquid waste diversion, and encroachment through semi permanent structures have just started. Immediate intervention will protect the pond form destruction and the following were the list of activities proposed for renovating the pond.
- Solid waste dumping should be stopped. The liquid waste diversion should be checked, The semi permanent structures have to be removed.
- The pond water spread should be desilted and deepened. The excavated soil can be used for strengthening the bund of the pond.
- Revetment need to be provided with toe and binding wall.
- Pathway of 1.2m width to be provided on the bund and fenced.
- The roof top down take pipes from the nearby houses can be interconnected and diverted into the pond.
- A recharge well of 1.2m in diameter to a depth of 3m can be provided in the pond to facilitate groundwater recharge.