The Hindu 18.07.2009
Telugu Ganga water to Chennai from Oct. 1
Special Correspondent
| The flow in the canal will be continued for 2 to 3 months |
HYDERABAD: The Andhra Pradesh government has decided to release water to Chennai from Telugu Ganga canal this time from October 1 to supplement the supplies being made to residents of that city from other sources such as Poondi reservoir.
Replenishments
The flow in the canal will be continued for 2 to 3 months, depending on the availability of water in Kandaleru reservoir in Nellore district which gets replenishments from Somasila and finally from Srisailam.
Major Irrigation Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah signed the relevant file here on Friday. This is in spite of the continued protests by the Tamil Nadu government against Andhra Pradesh proposal to construct a mini project across the Palar river.
Also, the releases by Andhra Pradesh will be irrespective of any help from Karnataka and Maharashtra which have to supply 5 tmcft (thousand million cubic ft) each to Chennai through Telugu Ganga canal under an agreement signed for Chennai.
The agreement provided for an equal contribution (5 tmcft ) by Andhra Pradesh.
Adequate storage
At present, Kandaleru reservoir has an adequate storage of 23 tmcft against its full capacity of 68 tmcft.
The sill-level of the Telugu Ganga canal sluices at Kandaleru project is such that the project can make the supplies to Chennai even with 10 tmcft storage.
Distance
The Telugu Ganga canal originates from the backwaters of Srisailam reservoir and joins Kandaleru after travelling a distance of 255 km through three districts.
From Kandaleru, the Telugu Ganga canal again covers 153 km to join Poondi reservoir at Red Hills, the principal drinking water source of Chennai.
