Tamil Nadu Minister for Revenue & Disaster Management R.B. Udhayakumar has assured that there was no immediate danger of any lakes in the Northern Districts of the State breaching their banks and over-flowing.

Speaking to newsmen in Chennai yesterday, the Minister said that only 20% of the total capacity of the lakes which supply drinking water to Chennai has been filled by the monsoon rains.

“Cholavaram, Puzhal and Chembarambakkam, which supply drinking water to meet Chennai’s needs, have only around 50% water out of their total capacity.  As such, there is no immediate threat of the water breaching the banks and flooding,” he said.

“Encroachments have come up in the path of rainwater to these water-bodies which has blocked the in-flow of rain water into these lakes. This is the primary reason for water not filling these lakes to their capacities. We have, therefore, decided to remove all kinds of encroachment along the banks of these lakes.  Removal of encroachment would continue based on the data we have,” he assured.