Irrigation Projects in TG Receive Inflows Due to Heavy Rains

Hyderabad: With the depression over the Bay of Bengal continuing to influence weather conditions, incessant rains across Telangana and heavy rainfall in the upper catchment areas resulted in a rise in inflows into several major irrigation projects, while overflowing streams and rivulets disrupted road connectivity at several places across the state on Wednesday.

The availability of floodwater has enabled continued power generation at the Upper and Lower Jurala hydroelectric stations, with 395 MW being generated through 10 units. Coal production was disrupted in two opencast mines in the Singareni area of Bhupalpally district due to the rains. The widespread rains have, however, brought cheer to farmers, with paddy transplantation picking up pace and tanks receiving substantial inflows.

The Nizamsagar project in Kamareddy district is receiving 6,585 cusecs of floodwater, with the inflow recorded over the last 24 hours amid heavy rains in the catchment areas. Against the full reservoir level of 1,405 feet and full storage capacity of 17.802 TMC, the water level stood at 1,395.40 feet with storage of 7.139 TMC. On the corresponding day last year, the water level was 1,391.25 feet and storage was 4.597 TMC.

The Jurala project in Mahabubnagar district is also witnessing substantial inflows, with around 27,000 cusecs entering the reservoir and 28,000 cusecs being released downstream. The water level reached 317.240 metres against the full reservoir level of 318.516 metres. The project has a full storage capacity of 9.657 TMC, while the present storage is 7.17 TMC.

Other projects too are receiving significant inflows. The Sripada Yellampalli project in Peddapalli district is receiving 11,735 cusecs of water, while the outflow is 450 cusecs. Against its total storage capacity of 20 TMC, the project currently holds 8.63 TMC, with the water level reaching 142.48 metres against the full reservoir level of 148 metres. The Kadem reservoir in Nirmal district is receiving 12,259 cusecs of floodwater, taking its water level to 684.52 feet against the full reservoir level of 700 feet. The Swarna reservoir in Nirmal district is receiving 1,047 cusecs, with the water level reaching 1,172.5 feet against the full level of 1,183 feet.

The rains have also caused streams and rivulets to swell in several districts. In the erstwhile Nizamabad district, moderate to heavy rainfall since Tuesday night led to a sharp rise in water levels in local streams.

The Kappala Vagu in Sirikonda mandal was flowing in full spate, washing away the approach road to a bridge and disrupting connectivity. A temporary approach road had earlier been laid at the damaged Kondur bridge, but the fresh rains again affected movement to Sirikonda.

The Mutyalamma Vagu at Vadi in Dharpally mandal was also overflowing. Roads between Peechara and Soan villages in Lakshmanchanda mandal in Nirmal district were cut off, while temporary bridges at Kurragudem and old Revojipet in Kadem mandal were washed away. Heavy rains were reported in Dichpally, Mopal, Sirikonda, Indalwai, Dharpally and Jakranpally mandals in Nizamabad district.

In Medak district, incessant overnight rain caused the Dhup Singh Thanda Vagu in Havelighanpur mandal to overflow, cutting off connectivity between the tribal hamlet and surrounding villages and leaving residents stranded. Floodwater also entered the Vandurga medium irrigation project.

In the erstwhile Warangal region, rain was reported in Kataram, Mahadevpur, Palimela, Kaleshwaram, Ghanpur and Mahamutharam mandals. Rainfall was also reported in Narsampet, Wardhannapet, Rayaparthy, Parvathagiri and Ayyanole, while several mandals in Mulugu district, including Mangapet, Eturunagaram, Kannayigudem, Wajedu, Venkatapuram, Tadvai, Govindaraopet, Venkatapur, Mulugu and Mallampally, received rain since Tuesday night.

In Bhadradri Kothagudem district, several streams and rivulets were overflowing following heavy rains. Large inflows into the Taliperu project in Cherla mandal prompted officials to lift 30 gates and release 30,000 cusecs of water downstream. In the Ramagundam industrial area of Peddapalli district, incessant rains inundated low-lying areas and floodwater accumulated on the road near Five Incline crossroads, disrupting traffic.

In Jagitial district, heavy overnight rain inundated the premises around a government primary school in Priyadarshini Colony near Peddacheruvu in Metpally.