Vijayawada: The downstream areas of Prakasam barrage may not get water during Krishna Pushkarams and cause trouble to the pilgrims, even when plans have been finalised to construct almost half of the total 36 Pushkar Nagars in Krishna district beyond the barrage.
Now, officials are facing a challenge in releasing a large amount of water so that it reaches Hamsaladeevi, where the river water enters the sea.
There is only 2 tmcft of water available in Pulichintala project and other reservoirs are empty in upstream states. At present, water is there only at a minimum-level in upstream areas of barrage and it is feared that the downstream areas might have to depend on Godavari water but releasing water downstream by using two pumps from Pattiseema project is difficult at this stage, say irrigation officials.
Several pilgrimage centers like Yanamalakuduru, Mopidevi, Movva, Ghantasala, Challapalli, Kuchipudi, Srikakulam and Hamsaladeevi are downstream of Prakasam barrage. The state government is making arrangements for providing facilities at all the important centres for pilgrims in view of Krishna Pushkaram but people living downstream the barrage doubt if there would be water at the ghats near their towns during Krishna Pushkarams.
According to sources, at least 10,000 cusecs of water is required for Pushkarams. The officials need to maintain flowing water at that ghats during Pushkarams but it may be difficult as Pattiseema lifting capacity is just 8,000 cusecs.
