Reservoirs Full, No Water Shortage Next Summer For Vizag

Visakhapatnam:The severe cyclone Arnab has left a trail of devastation as it crossed the coast at Narsapur on Wednesday but this also helped fill the reservoirs across coastal Andhra Pradesh with 36 hours of rainfall.

The cyclone caused heavy rainfall ranging from 15 to 25cm from Srikakulam to Amaapuram, filling the water bodies.

The rains brought cheers to the residents of Visakhapatnam who suffered a severe water shortage this summer till September 20 when a depression in the Bay filled the reservoirs by 50 per cent from the dry beds.

“Arnab filled the remaining 50 per cent, assuring good water supply for the entire summer of next year till the setting in of the southwest monsoons,’’ said an official from the GVMC water supply department. He said the rains are likely to recharge the groundwater levels, which went deep down due to the scanty rainfall.

The water level at Yeleru reservoir was 77.60 metres on September 20 and it now reached 83.40 metres. The present gross storage is 18.06tmc and the percentage of storage is 74.90.

The Thatipudi level on September 20 was 276.20 feet and this increased to 279.50 on October 27. The gross storage is 1.51tmc and the percentage of storage is 45.80 per cent.

The Raiwada level was 102. 90 metres on September 20 and it reached 106 metres on October 28. The gross storage is 1.28tmc and the percentage of storage is 35.50.

The Meghadrigedda level on September 20 was 46.40 and it reached 59 feet on October 28. The full reservoir level is 61 feet.

Two gates of Meghadri Gedda were opened and water was released on Wednesday evening.

The rains also filled the Tatipudi, Mudasarlova, Gambheeram and Gosthani reservoirs. Mudasarlova and Gambheeram went almost dry due to deficit rainfall during the first three months of the monsoons.

Revenue sources said the rain also filled agriculture ponds in most of the villages in coastal Andhra Pradesh that would benefit the farmers.