More Telemetry Stations Mooted to Measure Water Release

Vijayawada: As both AP and Telangana have agreed to measure quantum of water from both the Godavari and Krishna rivers that are being released into canals from the reservoirs, setting up telemetry stations gains importance.

The central water commission has set up several solar-powered telemetry stations especially along the course of Godavari river from its source of origin up to its end where water gets emptied into the sea.

It set up such units on the Godavari river near Polavaram, at Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage in Dowleswaram, Vanapalli and at other places.

These stations are set up at dams or barrages where a huge quantity of river water will be stored. The solar powered electronic device called telemeter will measure the quantum of water being released from the reservoir/pond into the canals round-the-clock, generate data and transmit it to the data centre for analysis. With this, a record will be maintained on the quantum of water discharged from the project into the canals at any given time.

As the electronic apparatus installed at the telemetry run on solar power, there is a need only to monitor their functioning. No staff presence is needed in inaccessible areas other than to change the batteries at regular intervals.

Following an agreement for measuring quantum of water being released into canals from the projects on both Godavari and Krishna river, it is expected that the authorities may take up a survey to set up the telemetry stations based on need so that any dispute on the quantum of water drawn can be resolved with the ready availability of data.

A CWC divisional engineer said, “The setting up of telemetry stations started five years ago and it is gaining more importance to get accurate and scientific data on the quantum of water being released from the project into canals.”

However, there are complaints about the malfunctioning of telemetry stations in places like Dowleswaram. This is due to lack of periodical maintenance.