Chennai: Rainfall forecast and nowcast, groundwater levels in all 1,203 firkas of the state, digital maps and boundaries of 14,311 tanks, soil moisture, inflow-outflow rates of water bodies and water demand in every village will be available in real-time from June, 2024 on the water resource department’s Tamil Nadu Water Resource Information and Management System.
It will work like Central Pollution Control Board’s real-time air quality index dashboard but for water tanks. The department’s Institute for Water Studies, in a first, developed this real-time digital dashboard for ₹30 crores, funded by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development. “Through this, we can plan to divert water from surplus to scarce areas,” said a WRD official. The dashboard will also aid in flood mitigation. Remember WRD opening the floodgates of Chembarambakkam lake and releasing water as per rainfall forecast during 2023 cyclone? “A similar process will happen with other tanks.
Based on rain forecast in that particular area, we will empty tanks enough to accommodate incoming water during monsoon season,” said the official. “Currently we are adding more water tanks to our dashboard and will be using it from June. Public can also view water levels and demands in their areas,” said a senior engineer. “Local bodies and revenue department own around 76,000 water bodies, which will be incorporated too.” Also, WRD is developing an artificial intelligence and satellite-based application to monitor water body encroachment. Based on older satellite water body maps and current ones, the encroached area and nature would be revealed. Both applications will be integrated soon, said officials.
