The scorching heat of summer is taking its toll on major irrigation projects in both the Krishna and Godavari basins. The reservoir levels are dipping alarmingly.
The Nagarjuna Sagar project, the waters of which are shared by both the Telugu States, is increasingly under pressure. It is nearing its minimum drawdown level. While current levels are slightly better compared to last year, the situation remains worrisome. If the water levels dip by another foot, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board may have to depend on emergency pumping.
for the second crop began in December. With Rabi crops due for their harvest, releases were stopped on Thursday evening.
A total of 180 TMC of water was supplied from the NSP right canal catering to the needs of AP exclusively and 144 TMC through the left canal that serves Telangana and partly Andhra Pradesh this year. Releases to support drinking water from Nagarjuna Sagar to Hyderabad continued at 2,441 cusecs, with the reservoir level touching a precarious 515.30 feet.
Some 13,000 cusecs of water is being released daily from Nagarjuna Sagar to meet the overall needs of both the states. The reservoir’s drawdown level being 510 feet, the project is likely to cease supporting the supplies very soon. Emergency measures for pumping water for Hyderabad are likely to be initiated soon. The Srisailam reservoir received a cumulative inflow of 1,605 TMC this year. But the project is holding only 39 TMC of it today, showing a marginal improvement from last year’s 34 TMC at this time.
