KRMB suggests AP, Telangana to use water judiciously to meet needs till May-end

Water level in the Srisailam project, one of the two common reservoirs for the Telugu States in the Krishna Basin, has plummeted to 848.4 ft against the full reservoir level of 885 ft.
| Photo Credit: NAGARA GOPAL

HYDERABAD

The Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) has suggested the two member States – Andhra Pradesh and Telangana – to utilise available water in the two common reservoirs Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar judiciously till the arrival of fresh flood as only about 60 tmcft water is available above minimum draw down level as of now.

Chairman of the river board Atul Jain asked the Engineers-in-Chief of the two States to meet every 15 days and review the position and utilise water carefully by giving top priority to meet drinking needs while availing water for irrigation needs of standing crops under the ayacut.

After the ENC level meeting of the two States, they have revised the indents to 55 tmcft (AP) and 63 tmcft (Telangana). They sought 10 tmcft and 20 tmcft each, respectively, from Srisailam and another 45 tmcft and 43 tmcft from Nagarjunasagar. Telangana has standing crop in 6.3 lakh acres under Telangana and another 2.5 lakh acres in Mahabubnagar with water from Srisailam.

Water level in the Srisailam project, one of the two common reservoirs for the Telugu States in the Krishna Basin, has plummeted to 848.4 ft against the full reservoir level of 885 ft. In terms of water storage, it is 76.49 tmcft against the full capacity of 215.81 tmcft as on February 27.

Similarly, water level in Nagarjunasagar is 530.6 ft against its full reservoir level of 590 ft and storage at 169.32 tmc ft against is capacity of 312.04 tmcft.