Filling up fast: Irrigation officials opened three crest gates of Srisailam project on Wednesday
Kurnool/Rajahmundry: With heavy inflows from the upstream nearly filling up the Srisailam reservoir, irrigation authorities opened three crest gates to let out water to the downstream on Wednesday. Srisailam project has received 3.48 lakh cusecs water from the upstream due to heavy rains in the Krishna basin.
Due to all projects in the upstream, from Almatti in Karnataka to Jurala in Telangana, brimming with water, authorities of those states are releasing the entire quantum of water received to Srisailam. Central Water Commission (CWC) has put irrigation authorities on high alert about receiving heavier inflows to Krishna projects.
The water level at Srisailam project reached 881 ft against the full reservoir level (FRL) of 885ft on Wednesday night, prompting irrigation engineers to open the gates. Three gates have been opened releasing one lakh cusecs water to the downstream Nagarjuna Sagar project.
Sources said that the water level at Srisailam will touch FRL by Wednesday night itself and authorities are gearing up to open more gates.
Around 193tmc of water is already stores in Srisailam reservoir and another 20 tmc will pack the reservoir to its full storage capacity. The Sagar project has been receiving nearly 40,000 cusecs water from intermediaries over the last few days following rains in Nallamalla. Additional inflow from Srisailam is expected to fill the Sagar project in the next two days. The water level at Sagar project is increasing quickly as inflows touched 571ft against FRL of 595ft.
Meanwhile, four branches of River Godavari— Gouthami, Vriddha Gouthami, Vashista and Vainatheya— are in spate in the Konaseema area in West Godavari district. Several island villages are inundated due to heavy inflows from Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage.
Eduru Bidiuam, Appalapalli and Kanakayalanka causeways are completely inundated. Flood water has entered Sri Balaji Bala temple in Appanapalli and the house of Andhra Annapurna Dokka Seethamma. Amalapuram sub-collector Himanshu Kaushik said that 64 villages are affected in Konaseema of which around 20 villages are completely inundated. He further said that one person has gone missing in the floods. A total of 18.55 lakh cusecs water is being discharged from Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage and the second warning is in force. Water has receded to 43.5ft in Bhadrachalem and is likely to fall further by Thursday morning. Water has also started to recede in Devipatnam mandal even as 20 villages remain inundated.
Meanwhile, Palcole MLA Nimmala Rama Nayudu of TDP had a narrow escape while visiting flood-affected villages in West Godavari district after the engine of his boat stopped and the boat started to wash away. Staff dragged to boat towards East Godavari and police with other officials took the MLA to safety.