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  India   All India  26 Jun 2019  Watch: Time-lapse video shows Chennai’s Puzhal lake drying up in months

Watch: Time-lapse video shows Chennai’s Puzhal lake drying up in months

THE ASIAN AGE
Published : Jun 26, 2019, 4:39 pm IST
Updated : Jun 26, 2019, 4:39 pm IST

Groundwater in Chennai and surrounding areas is fed by Puzhal and four other lakes - Sholavaram, Kaliveli, Pulicat and Maduranthakam.

The video made from the compilation of satellite images released by ESA Sentinel shows rapidly depleting water levels in Puzhal lake - one of five key water bodies keeping the city afloat - between April and June - highlighting the severity of the situation. (Photo: AP | File)
 The video made from the compilation of satellite images released by ESA Sentinel shows rapidly depleting water levels in Puzhal lake - one of five key water bodies keeping the city afloat - between April and June - highlighting the severity of the situation. (Photo: AP | File)

Chennai: As the city of Chennai battles a severe water crisis that has forced city officials to cut down pipeline water supply by 40 per cent, a time-lapse video of satellite images showing a lake drying up has emerged online.

 

 

The video made from the compilation of satellite images released by ESA Sentinel shows rapidly depleting water levels in Puzhal lake - one of five key water bodies keeping the city afloat - between April and June - highlighting the severity of the situation.

Groundwater in Chennai and surrounding areas is fed by Puzhal and four other lakes - Sholavaram, Kaliveli, Pulicat and Maduranthakam all of which are located within a 60-kilometre radius of the city.

However continued misuse in the form of encroachment on these water bodies have dramatically reduced each of these lake’s capacity to hold water and replenish underground water tables.

Adding to that, the heatwave in the state has added to the worries, with temperatures frequently crossing the 40 degrees Celsius mark and putting more pressure on the already stressed water supply.

The combination of the heatwave and water shortages has placed Chennai on top of a WWF Water report of megacities at risk of drought and scarcity. The report ranks Kolkata at No 2 and includes Istanbul, Bangkok, Tehran and Los Angeles in the top 10.

 

 

Tags: chennai, drying up, water crisis, puzhal lake
Location: India, Tamil Nadu, Chennai (Madras)