About
24km north of Chennai, Cholavaram Tank is one of the largest lakes around the
city (following Puzhal, Sembarambakkam and Poondi) and the water from the
rain-fed reservoir is drawn for the city supply, through canals to Puzhal Lake.
During
2015 historical rain and flood, the Lake reached the maximum capacity of 595
(mcft) out of 881 (mcft) and on 1st December 2015, the lake had an
inflow of 423 (cusecs) and an outflow of 400 (cusecs). But now, due to failure
of Northeast Monsoon, the level of water has went nearly down and its bed has
almost turned playground, as you could see from the photos above (and below) –
some youngsters are playing cricket on the grasses.
Apart lake, Cholavaram is primarily
known for motor racing and racing events were conducted here from early 1960s
to the late 1980s, before the Madras Motor Sports Club built a new track at Irungattukottai,
near Sriperumbadur, Chennai. The race track near Cholavaram Lake was used to be
an air strip during World War II and being a T shaped track it was modified to
conduct racing on certain conditions. But having no idea where the race track
was, I couldn’t check the place when visiting the lake on my way to Nagalapuram.
 |
Buffaloes grazing on dry
bed of the tank/lake
|
I actually decided
to climb on the lake bank road from the south and get down at other end in
north, but I missed the road that comes next to the Nallur toll plaza on NH 16,
and could only check the lake from the other end where the surplus weir exit. A
red soil road comes around the lake partially and only bikes and cars can
travel from one end to another. As per agreement with Andhra Pradesh Govt. the Krishna
water release from Kandaleru reservoir, is stored in Cholavaram Lake as well as
Poondi reservoir for drinking purpose.
 |
| Someone had got the car into the lake... but we had no time to experience such |
11 comments:
Interesting lake
Thanks for the photos and information about this lake. It's interesting that the site has had so many uses.
Buffaloes! They are pretty rare here. I didn't know you had them there too.
Interesting! I am familiar with Cholavaram race....I didn't know about the lake. Hope we get some rains soon. Water table is coming down fast.
A scenic place to play seasonal cricket :P
Destination Infinity
What lovely scenery.
The lake looks very serene. I am sad the water level has dropped to such an extent...maybe some builder will build a high-rise there in decades to come!
The lake is originally so huge! I could see the grass growing so fast when the lake's water level dropped.
It's a beautiful lake, Jeevan. I hope you get rain soon so the water level rises.
We're still under snow!
It is so great you have such a water system to supply the city. I know hat rainfall always is out of sync sorties and drought causes worry.
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