Naidu Reviews Floods, Orders 50kg Rice, Pushes Krishna Barrages

VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday directed officials to capture maximum floodwater in reservoirs and tanks, while intensifying relief measures in the rain and flood-hit areas of the state. North Andhra has particularly suffered due to heavy rains. Reviewing with senior officials the heavy rainfall, rising inflows in rivers and flood situation through a teleconference, Naidu ordered distribution of 50 kg of rice for free to every fisherman’s family who has been unable to venture into the sea for the past five days. Officials briefed the CM on inundation of residential areas in several districts, crop damage, and relief and rehabilitation measures. He asked officials to remain on high alert, continuously monitor the situation, and provide timely assistance to the affected people.

Naidu stressed the need to store floodwater to the maximum extent possible by filling reservoirs and their downstream tanks while carrying out rescue and relief operations. He asked officials to crease waterways wherever feasible to fill small and medium water bodies. The Chief Minister wanted officials to expedite the proposals for a new barrage between Pulichintala and Prakasam Barrage. He suggested that another barrage be built downstream of Prakasam Barrage. He directed officials to ready the proposals for the two barrages for submission to the Centre.Naidu ordered officials to expedite power supply to the Hiramandalam project, so that the lift works could be completed in coordination with the irrigation and energy departments. He asked officials to divert Vamsadhara water into the Hiramandalam reservoir. Officials informed the CM that the state’s rainfall deficit had declined from 50 per cent to 31 per cent following the recent rains. The deficit stood at 19.80 per cent in Coastal Andhra and 42 per cent in Rayalaseema. Inflows are continuing to rise in the North Andhra rivers from upstream areas.

Water levels have increased in 29 reservoirs following the heavy rains. Their combined storage, 101 TMC on September 23, has risen by around 21 TMC ft by September 26. In North Andhra, 11 projects gained around 5 TMC of water, while another 18 reservoirs in Kakinada, Polavaram, Alluri Sitarama Raju, Eluru, Palnadu, Nellore, Kurnool, Kadapa, and Anantapur districts recorded a combined increase of 16 TMC ft of water. In Vamsadhara basin, inflows into Gotta Barrage rose from 7,214 cusecs on September 20 to 47,100 cusecs on September 25. In Narayanapuram anicut in Nagavali basin, inflows increased from 2,100 cusecs to 49,800 cusecs, while in Madduvalasa project, inflows rose from 918 cusecs to around 18,000 cusecs, taking its storage from 1.61 TMC ft to 2.79 TMC ft. Inflows in the Thotapalli barrage rose from 2,484 cusecs to around 23,250 cusecs. In the Godavari basin, storage in Donkarayi reservoir increased from 11.67 TMC ft to 15.78 TMC ft. Seeleru (Guntawada) reservoir saw an increase from 1.52 TMC ft to 3.90 TMC ft. Outflows from Dowleswaram Barrage rose from 1.20 lakh cusecs to 3.50 lakh cusecs.

At Prakasam Barrage, inflows and outflows rose from 8,187 cusecs to 40,521 cusecs, while at Munneru flows rose from 3,210 cusecs to 9,000 cusecs. Officials also reported increased flows in the Krishna, Godavari, Nagavali, and Vamsadhara basins. Agriculture minister K. Atchannaidu said the decision to supply 50 kg of rice free to every eligible fishing family in the cyclone-affected areas has been taken after the Chief Minister had been apprised of the hardships being faced by these families, whose livelihood depends entirely on marine fishing.Atchannaidu asked fishermen not to venture into the sea until weather conditions improve. He disclosed that a motorised fishing boat that had sailed from Kakinada had safely reached Paradip in Odisha on Saturday morning. All nine fishermen aboard the boat are safe.