Tamilnadu drought 2016

Will our Water projects really help?

With the failure of both the Monsoons in Parts of the South India, the drought gained its threshold. The problems related to the drought might first start in the villages and later on spread into the city around April-May time. The shortage of Water is now the major consequence which we are going to face upon. 

Lack of Proper water storage plans adding up the disaster in the Tamilnadu as well as in the other states. The water which is crucial essential ingredient for our daily needs, is not being available in the crucial times. Last year Chennai witnessed floods and even Districts like Cuddalore, Pondicherry too got the same. Where did the water went? Can't the government or any concerned authority plan for the Flood water management?

The rains normally occur in phases. We can classify those phases into a drought phase and a Flood phase. The oscillation from these phases are controlled by weather parameters and they constitute the climatic features. During the flood, the water need to be preserved carefully, so that we can face the drought easily. But the flood water storage is not enough to store more amounts of Water inside a dam, mainly in a Monsoon affected places of South India.

(I have listed out the drought hit areas along the South India and Mentioned some reasons for its failure)

(This map is published by NOAA Government service, USA. Its stating the drought condition right along the South India. See the red and Yellow colours)

Any chance for Retreat?

The North-east Monsoon (The only Hope for Tamilnadu) withdrawn from the indian mainland. Now we can see the dry conditions ahead for the next two Months. The cyclones are very rare to Form in February and March. Need to see the Cyclone season of April and May, since we get Cyclones along Arabian sea and Bay of Bengal. During this season, the seasonal Climatology influence the system Motion

During the time of April and May, the Cyclonic systems normally follow the climatology. The Sub-Tropical ridge position influence the systems to Move towards Burma and even towards Bangladesh-West Bengal. If lucky, the South India gets one System. For the next two to three months less possiblity of Rains.

Why its Second Largest Drought year To Tamilnadu third Largest drought to Entire India?-

I have attached some Tabulations, lets have a look-

The first Table describes the Rainfall pattern for every year in Tamilnadu. Its shows we have got 168.5mm rains this year into a historical drought second largest Drought.

The Second Table describes, the Worst drought Hit areas in South India as a whole. The Both monsoons Failed and thus bringing a Copious Water problems. Some news papers publishing a death of about 90 farmers in december Month alone. Really, the figure might go up and still up, when we head towards May Month.

Even the dam Levels along Chennai city is very poor. The dam levels according my opinion is not at all suitable to meet down the needs of the people living in the city, believing the corporation water. The Government now asking for Telugu Ganga water from Krishna River. Actually, there is a big water deficit in Andhra itself. Need to see whats the decision taken up by the state.

Some useful Tips for proper Water Management-

These tips are not taken from any internet Source, this purely from my heart- Need to see if any official sees this and ask about the steps-

1)There must be a university or an educational institution, to maintain a research continuously on Water related problems and Flood water Management.

2)The Government should seek for proper engineers to construct efficient dams and they should also see that the Material and Workers working at the plot are efficient to the given Tender amount.

3)Dams should be constructed in Some areas like Delta, Western ghats near Valparai to ensure proper water for irrigation alone.

4)Government or the authorities concerned should offer proper 0-5% rate loans to farmers, so that they can survive even in the drought conditions.

5)During flood situation, the water from the main flood stream should be diverted to an alternative Storage vessel and use it for irrigation. The plan should be implemented by seeing the proper area for citation and sourcing proper Funds to the Working staff.

6)Ground water storage pits and small tanks should be constructed in remote villages, so that we can increase the ground water Table.

7)Chembarambakkam project should be extended slightly so that the catchment area for Chennai water and for the irrigation purpose of Other villages in Tiruvallur and Kanchipuram dsitricts are ensured.

8) more plans should be built in Coastal areas from Nellore to Vedaranniyam stretch to preserve the rain water from North east Monsoon rains. This will also help, if any drought prevails over interiors.

9)In the case of Both Monsoons failure (2016), the local tanks and bore wells and even the ground water level will serve for the great purpose.

10)When ever, the villages are given importance by the government, the India can see a marginal growth in its economy and we can see more farmers, actively participating in irrigation projects.

11)Drip irrigation is an effective way to store some amounts of water for the future. A combined study shows that the 30% of water can be saved if we opt for drip type irrigation.

(Whats big happiness to the country, if we see a farmer smiling with happiness)-I pray for a green and a country with people and the government working together.

Jai Hind

Sai Praneeth, B.E student in Government College of Technology, Coimbatore.

Vardah Cyclone

Vardah Exclusive Details-

Hrishi's experience-

"I feel really sad for his absence for the past 2 days. Just now he says power restored. Really a fury in South Chennai areas.."Actually i love Cyclones and extremely Heavy Rainfall...But this is Worst than 1st December Downpour...My area Palavakkam was kept under a rain Carnage from 1pm to 3pm and my AWS recorded a massive Total of 284mm in just 3 hours spell. Even near my College its flooding. By evening, the situation beacme Worsen and really i was totally upset. Power gone and my mobile Charge drained. Don't know what to do, full area under dark. Even the Mobile net connection was lost. I never imagined such a damage that too to Chennai", he added.

Sai Krishna's Experience-

Me too a team mate of WOS. All started with a drizzle in Morning at Chepauk. Suddenly there was a heavy rain towards afternoon. Gusts slowly grabbed speed around 11.45 am and peaked near 1 pm. Cant able to see the other side of Building indeed. The winds were Gusting around 125 km/h in my area and it was a dream run of winds. I cant say in my words, such a deluge making up to 197mm in just 2 hours. Since we are near to Sea, we had a direct pose of winds and its like a terrifying gust. The howling sound is something which is scary. Thanks to the government At last they declared holiday for 3 days. I was about tell you all, Never under estimate the power of Cyclone". 

Sanjana Kumar Experience-

"Actually i was unaware of this Cyclone. Started my day as a Normal day. Never Experience a Cyclone Till date in My life. I am from Irunjalakuda, Kerala. Now Working in Hyundai company and a good friend of Sai, the admin. That day started as a normal day, the clock was ticking 11.00am, i was typing computer and furnishing some details. Suddenly my colleagues told me the news on Cyclone. I opened the Windyty app and saw the wind. It was actually a big monster i saw for the first time in Map. Around 1.00pm, i texted Sai but he didn't respond my message. I said him, "Sai sir came" and went to work. Sudeenly around 3.30pm, a big gust rolled through. I was shocked to see such a big gust. Super winds and a Cat 2 feel. Infact my heart was beating like anything. First time in my life. That hauling sound, unforgettable. Infact Tropical cyclone is unimaginable and unpredictable, mainly in our countryside. It was 7 pm, i came out of office. No power around the place. Really i was a bit feared. No internet connection and No contact with parents. Really horrible. Don't know how to manage things. Finally it was 3 days aftermath, i got network and power access back. First time in my life, facing a difficulty itself an experience".

Photo by Sanjana-Hyundai-

Picture by Hrishi-Jeppiar Engineering College-

Massive rains round the eye wall, straight over Sanjana's office, Vardah-

Some maps by Nasa-

Rain rate measurement round the eye wall of Vardah-

Total Rainfall of Vardah (TRMM)-

Coming to the Actual Winds and Quantum-

Chennai city recorded a Maximum wind speed of 138.4 kph when Severe Cyclone Vardah Struck. As per the Radar, if we see north chennai got more Winds whereas the Parts of south chennai got Winds and Rains. Heavy rains seen close to Tambaram, Kelambakkam. Pallavaram, Sriperambudur, Palavakkam, Shollinganallur, Tiruvallur, Kanchipuam stretch. The rainfall totals exceeded about 30 cms in these areas totally from Vardah.

On the Other hand, North Chennai got the Less rainfall. Ponneri, Perambur, Ambattur, Tondiarpet, Royapuram got considerable less rainfall, DGP office (below 15cms).

(Data by Pradeep)

How much loss estimated till now?

News channels telling a loss nearing 6749 crores to Tamilnadu and about 586 crores to Andhra Pradesh. There were several Videos of Lifting cars, Bus, even a big Building published by Hindu news-facebook (Have a look). The more loss is incurred along Northern Suburbs. One reason i want to Mention is the Unplanned constructions here and there in the city, without proper attestation of authorities concerned. Our city is planned to handle a rainfall up to 15cms and not a 49cms deluge (1st december, 2015-Tambaram) and its made to handle a wind speed around 50 kmph but not a 120 kmph storm. The additional unwanted and unplanned constructions add up into loss. The Society need to see the future losses, instead of building beautiful and extra-ordinary constructions. What for building a 100 storied building and getting washed by a storm??..Haha tell me..its waste...'ok' if its 120 kmph cyclone. What will happen if some Cat-5 cyclone with 250 kmph strucks ???....who will pay the loss?? Can the insurance give?

Structural engineers need to investigate about the Material stability to with stand high tension winds and Gusts. There must be a compensation to the coast which we pay. Need to improve this area to reduce losses.
"Its in our hands to lay future for our futuristic country...Lots of young blood in India. Come out and re build the unplanned"

Lines of Civil Engineer-

Pon Karthikeyan (Civil student, in my college)-
"Reinforcement of Cement structures needs a proper ratio of Sand, Water, Cement and Lim...they should be mixed in a proper ratio as per the Civil guidelines. But some illegal workers, reduce the amount of ratio and build flyovers and bridges...if cyclone comes, can it handle?"
"Aim- To improve strength of the material...(Futuristic goal)" He adds.

Coonoor

Why Coonoor Gets Heaviest Rainfall during North-east Monsoon

Generally during North-east Monsoon or  Summer Season, when a Low pressure system tracks along Lakshadweep sea, Places along Kerala coast get Rainfall, which lies between 40-100mm QPF. But the places in the Nilgiri District of Tamilnadu, particularly Coonoor-Kothagiri-Ketti Belt gets Heavy rainfall of around 100-120 mm QPF. 

One extra-ordinary rainfall, 

Orography of Nilgiris-

When during South west monsoon, Coonoor belt is subjected to mild rainfall, where as the other stations like gudalur, portimund Avalanche is subjected to heavy rainfall. During the North east Monsoon, the winds are from east and the Western parts like gudalur, avalanche become dry. But it is noted a heavy rainfall along Coonoor belt. When Synoptic system moves close Kerala coast, Coonoor-Kothagiri belt witness heavy rainfall. Even if we take 2009 as example, a Depression became well marked close to Kerala coast and Nilgiri witnessed extremely heavy rains. One of the heaviest rains in Tamilnadu state, Ketti with 820mm in 24 hours.