Kurnool: Major Irrigation minister Devineni Uma on Saturday opened seven crest gates of Srisailam reservoir, releasing 1,22,368 cusecs of water into the downstream Nagarjunasagar. The inflow of water into the reservoir was recorded at 3,60,000 cusecs.
The water lever in Srisailam reservoir touched a peak of 881 feet on Saturday against the full reservoir level of 885 ft. The minister said it augers well for the farming community. The reservoir now stores 195 tmc ft of water against its maximum capacity of 215 tmc ft.
Mr Uma said the dam’s safety would be given highest priority as Srisailam was developing structural weakness ever since a ditch was formed in the plunge pool area. He said water would be released into all reservoirs, canals, and ayacut without any discrimination. The Rayalaseema farmers had expressed apprehension that the authorities were being biased against Handri Neeva, Galeru Nagari, and Pothireddy Padu areas.
Taking a dig at the YSRC, Mr Uma said that when 1,000 tmc of water was going into sea, the opposition party had filed cases against him demanding stoppage of pumping of water at Pattiseema and Purushottam Patnam. He said the engineers in the irrigation department were forced to approach the National Green Tribunal answering frivolous questions after cases were filed by the YSRC.
The minister said the AP government had spent Rs 59,000 crore on irrigation works in the state. On Polavaram alone, Rs 9,000 crore was spent despite not receiving of the Rs 2,600 crores as promised from the union government.
