The Business Line 09.09.2009
AP to release water from Srisailam, Nagarjunasagar
Our Bureau
Hyderabad, Sept 8 With two major reservoirs of Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar receiving copious inflows following rains in the last two weeks, the Andhra Pradesh Government has decided to release water for drinking and irrigation requirements.
The State Government has also decided to release water from the Telugu Ganga project for drinking water requirements to Chennai.
This move follows a direction to this effect issued by the Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, after a review meeting with officials of the irrigation department.
Drinking water
Briefing newspersons here today, the Minister for Major Irrigation, Mr Ponnala Laskhmaiah, said that about 310 TMC of water will be released for drinking water requirement and also to meet the irrigation requirements for the farm sector.
Of this, about 170 TMC water will be released from the Nagarjunasagar left and right bank canal systems and supply water to Nalgonda, Khamman and Guntur districts of the State.
As of now, while the Srisailam reservoir has received significant inflows in the last 15 days due to most of the upstream reservoirs in the neighbouring states getting filled up and now forced to release water. The reservoir is close to achieving its full reservoir level of 885 ft.
Inflows soon
However, the other big reservoir, Nagarjunasagar, is yet to receive adequate inflows as there has not been much rain its catchment areas. With the Srisailam reservoir getting filled up, and the State deciding to release water, Nagarjunasagar will receive inflows. Significantly, the release of water will also bolster the hydel power generation in the State.
The filling up of these two major reservoirs is likely to play a major role in the rabi season later this year. Since the kharif operations have been affected due to inadequate rains, the State Government expects to boost agriculture produce during the rabi crop season.
In spite of widespread rains in the past two weeks boosting sowing operations, the State may find it tough to make up for the loss. However, rainfall deficit has significantly come down in the last two weeks.
According to the directions of the Chief Minister, water will be released from September 15.
