Hyderabad: With inflows into Almatti down and water levels at Narayanapur, Jurala and Srisailam receding, uncertainty prevails in both TS and AP as to how to utilise the available water for irrigation purposes under various Krishna-based projects.
The Krishna River Management Board is the competent authority for allocation of waters to various projects in the two states in consultation with officials of both AP and TS. As far as drinking water is concerned, the available water at both Srisailam and NS Dam will be sufficient till next year.
“We have requested the KRMB chairman and Member Secretary to immediately convene the Board meeting to take stock of the situation and also to decide on release for irrigation purposes,” TS Special Chief Secretary for irrigation S.K. Joshi told DC on Sunday.
On Sunday, inflows into Almatti decreased from 2.5 lakh cusecs to 1.50 lakh. Following this, the authorities are now releasing around 85,000 cusecs downstream and have started building up full storage at the dam.
As a cascading effect, release from Narayanapur dam came down to 70,000 cusecs and from Jurala to 1 lakh cusecs.
“Since it is mid-August, and there are 45 days left for the monsoon season, we can get fresh inflows,” said a senior irrigation official. However, both the states are awaiting the KRMB decision with a list of demands for release of water for irrigation for their projects.
As on Sunday, there was only 165 tmc ft of utilisable water at Srisailam against 215 tmc ft. The present level at Srisailam is 875 ft but AP has been demanding water for Pothireddypadu, Handri-Neeva etc. for which the level need to be maintained at 854 ft.
If Srisailam water is allowed to be emptied for irrigation at NS Dam, Rayalaseema farmers will object if level dips to below 854 ft. Taking a decision on utilising the available waters for irrigation, that too for which project in which state, has become tricky now.
