Rejuvenation helps Otteri lake in Vellore to reach full capacity since 2021 floods

Rejuvenation of Otteri lake, a British-era man-made facility located on the outskirts of Vellore Corporation, helped the water body reach full storage capacity on Saturday since the 2021 floods.

Officials of Vellore Corporation, which maintains the water body, said regular rain in catchment areas like Palamathi, Kolavimedu and Naickaneri tribal hamlets in Jawadhu Hills in October gradually increased the water level in the lake.

“Water is also drawn from the lake to meet the water needs of civilians. The full capacity of the lake also helps in recharging the groundwater around it,” said Vellore Corporation Commissioner R. Lakshman.

Spread over an area of ​​19 acres, Otteri lake was built in 1904 to provide regular water supply to British troops stationed in Vellore fort. Pipelines and Overhead Tanks (OHTs) were constructed to supply water from the lake to officers’ quarters within the vast fort complex.

The total storage capacity of the lake is 19 MLD (million liters per day). Farmer K. Raman said, “The water in the lake is also used to irrigate agricultural lands in surrounding villages. Residents also drill boreholes on the lakeside to draw water for domestic use.”

Institution officials said that the alluvium accumulated in the lake was cleaned within the scope of rejuvenation. An average of 45 centimeters of silt accumulates in the lake area every year.

Most silt deposits are dry vegetation, animal waste, and sand from hills washed away during rains. The alluvium accumulated in the lake, which was rejuvenated years ago, was removed to store excess rainwater.

During the monsoon season, excess rainwater in the lake is discharged into rainwater channels and the moat in the castle. The water then flows into the Nicholson canal before being discharged into the Palar river off the Chennai-Bengaluru Expressway (NH-48).

Corporation officials said the town has witnessed good rains for the last few weeks since the 2021 floods. With the restoration carried out by the municipality, the lake will be able to store excess rainwater up to its full storage capacity.

Of the total 24 boreholes maintained by the institution around the lake, water was previously drawn from only 11 boreholes due to the low groundwater level. Officials said the rejuvenation of the lake has helped the municipality draw water from most of the boreholes around the lake.

Currently, the total water demand of the civic body is 80 MLD per day. Domestic water consumption is covered by TWAD within the institution’s limits.