Water Storage For Reservoirs At 1300 TMC

Vijayawada:Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials to effectively implement water management practices by utilising the water that is currently flowing as waste into the sea.

At a review meeting on the status of water storage in irrigation projects, held at the secretariat on Thursday, Naidu emphasised the importance of filling reservoirs, tanks and lakes, particularly in the Rayalaseema region.

Officials briefed the CM on the current water storage levels across major projects in the state, which they said total approximately 771 tmc ft ow water. They also reported that medium-level projects contain about 43 tmc, while smaller tanks hold around 67 tmc of water. In total, the state has about 882 tmc of water stored in its reservoirs and lakes.

With flood flows continuing in the Krishna and Godavari rivers, Naidu wanted the officials to explore options for transferring this water to the projects in the Rayalaseema region. He said reservoirs such as Somashila, Kandaleru, Gandikota, Brahmam Sagar and Paidipalem be filled with the available water.

Officials said there was a potential to fill an additional 132 tmc into the reservoirs and lakes in the Rayalaseema area.

The CM suggested them to analyse how many projects can be filled if approximately 4 tmc of water is transferred daily. He urged officials to undertake the transfer of water to fill reservoirs in the Tungabhadra and Penna river basins to the extent possible.

Naidu asked officials to release water from Gandikota, Mylavaram, Penna Ahobilam balancing reservoir and Chitravati balancing reservoir into canals while simultaneously filling them.

The CM emphasised the need to also try and transfer water from Pothireddipadu, Machchumarri and Handrinivaa to the Jeedipalli reservoir. He stressed the importance of maximising water transfer while minimising costs, recommending gravity-driven transfers wherever feasible.

He felt that filling the state's 43,000 tanks would contribute significantly to recharging groundwater levels. A one-metre rise in groundwater levels is equivalent to storing 120 tmc ft of water.

Officials reported that the average groundwater level across the state was currently at a depth of 9.8 metres. By enhancing the water storage situation and aiming to reduce this disparity by another 5 metres, an additional 600 tmc ft of water could be made available, the CM explained.

With the monsoon season bringing normal rainfall forecasts, Naidu anticipated that 1,300 tmc ft of water could be stored in all reservoirs, ensuring ample water supply for the Kharif and Rabi cropping seasons. All tanks beneath major projects such as Brahmam Sagar, Gorakallu, Maarala, Cherlopalli and Pattikonda must be filled immediately, Naidu proposed.

In a bid to enhance efficiency, the CM called for the active involvement of irrigation water societies in ensuring that reservoirs and tanks are adequately filled.

Naidu said, “Overall, establishing the extent to which water can be transferred by the end of this cropping season is crucial, alongside accelerating repairs of tanks and projects.” He called for preparations to bring water to the Kuppam Branch canal by August 31.

The review meeting was attended by minister Nimmala Ramanaidu, special chief secretary to the irrigation department Sai Prasad and other officials.