CM Naidu to Release Srisailam Water to HNSS Today

This is in keeping with the CM’s target of providing water to Handri Neeva Sujala Sravanthi (HNSS) project from Malyal in Nandyal district to Jeedipalli reservoir in Anantapur district. The water will thereafter flow into Kuppam and Punganur branch canals to ensure water to farmers of the Rayalaseema region.

Under Phase I, 3,850 cusecs of water is to be pumped from backwaters of Srisailam to upper regions of Anantapur district. From there the water will finally flow to Punganur and Kuppam.

Chandrababu Naidu has taken immense interest in the HNSS project, on the lines similar to the Polavaram project. He allocated ₹3,890 crore for widening and strengthening of the HNSS Phase I and II main canal and branch canals under HNSS project phase I and II.

HNSS officials said the CM will release water after offering poojas at Malyal pumping station on Thursday. River Krishna water from Srisailam will then get pumped to Jeedipalli. The water is expected to reach Punganur and Kuppam branch canals by the end of July.

For widening of the canal, the state government has spent ₹696 crore from the zero milestone of Malyal towards Jeedipalli in Anantapur district, about 216 km away. The widening will enable an additional 1,600 cusecs of water to flow in the canal.

Irrigation officials said total of 40 TMC feet of water can be drawn from Srisailam backwaters to meet the drinking and irrigation needs of Kurnool, Anantapur, Satya Sai and Chittoor districts of the Rayalaseema region.

As the Tungabhadra board has already released water into the High Level Canal, HNSS project will receive an additional boost. This will enable filling up of all irrigation tanks along the route connecting to the branch canals up to Kuppam.

Parts of drought-hit Kadiri and Penukonda revenue divisions in Satya Sai district will also stand to benefit.