Nellore: With water reserves dropping to dead storage level in both Somasila and Kandaleru projects, officials are worried about how they would be able to meet the drinking water needs in SPSR Nellore district from October if there are no rains before the end of September. In-charge Superintending Engineer of Irrigation for Nellore and Prakasam districts K. Venkataramana said the situation is more precarious in Prakasam district while pointing out the drying up of water sources such as Gundlakamma and Ramatheerdham projects supplying water to Ongole Municipal Corporation.
The Civic body authorities in Ongole said they can manage the situation for only a week more with available water. Incidentally water is being supplied to consumers only once in five days in Ongole city now. Mr Venkataramana said, “The only alternative would be to draw water from Nagarjunasagar but the release needs the approval of Central Water Board because of dwindling water reserves with zero inflows from upstream of Krishna river.
Referring to water being supplied from Kandaleru dam to quench the thirst of the people of Tirupati and pilgrims coming to Tirumala, he said they are using heavy pumping machines to draw water from dead storage level for their consumption. Till date, nearly 1.1 tmc.ft of water was realised at Tirupati end out of 2 tmc released since June 25 this year because of tapping by farmers enroute besides evaporation loss. He said they have sealed all the sluices enroute to Tirupati from Kandleru through welding to prevent misuse of water and the cost of pumping is around Rs 10 cr so far. He added that they are mulling over continuing the supply of water to Tirupati as the Municipal Corporation has sought additional 0.5 tmc.ft.
