The authorities of irrigation systems based on Krishna waters, particularly in the erstwhile Mahabubnagar district, are planning early release of water for the first crop (Kharif) this year following early flood to Jurala and Srisailam reservoirs, which continue to get heavy inflows from July 19.
“Instructions have been issued to all the officials concerned to operate the lift irrigation schemes based on Jurala and Srisailam reservoirs as Andhra Pradesh has started drawing water from Tungabhadra (Sunkesula barrage) to the K.C. Canal system and to Handri-Neeva lift irrigation project from the foreshores of Srisailam at Malyala,” a senior official of the Irrigation Department said. Following this, Nettempadu, Bheema and Koilsagar lift irrigation schemes and Right, Left and Parallel Canals originating from Jurala reservoir have also started drawing water to fill the tanks linked to the systems. Although directions were given to start pumping water through Kalwakurthy lift irrigation project, the officials are yet to begin the water drawal.
Inflows to Srisailam
Official sources stated that the Irrigation Advisory Board meeting for combined (erstwhile) Mahabubnagar district, which is now divided into Mahabubnagar, Nagarkurnool, Jogulamba-Gadwal and Wanaparthy districts, held on Monday has decided to irrigate about 8 lakh acres under Kalwakurthy, Bheema, Nettempadu, Koilsagar, Jurala and Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme (RDS) this season. Release of water to RDS, which has its head regulator in Karnataka, began on Monday.
Meanwhile, the water storage in Srisailam is approaching half-way mark against the capacity of 215.81 tmc ft as it has crossed 100 tmc ft on Tuesday night with the level approaching 860 ft against the full reservoir level of 885 ft, although there has been a slight decrease in the flood since Sunday. The Central Water Commission has also forecast that inflows into Almatti and Narayanpur are expected to fall further, while the flood to Tungabhadra would be steady. The inflows into Jurala were recorded at 1.8 lakh cusecs on Tuesday evening and the discharge into the river course was measured over 1.33 lakh cusecs through 16 spillway gates and 40,000 cusecs from the power house. Similarly, the inflows into Srisailam were recorded over 1.99 lakh cusecs on Tuesday night with over 1.7 lakh cusecs from Jurala and rest from Tungabhdra.
Godavari Basin
On the other hand, the prospects of giving early water under major projects in Godavari Basin such as Sriramsagar, Singur and Nizamasagar still appear grim due to poor inflows. Nevertheless, there is a possibility of early water release under smaller projects including Kaddam, Kumram Bheem, Sathnala, Nilwai, Mathadivagu, Suddavagu-Gaddennavagu, P.P. Rao project (Yerravagu), L.T. Bayyaram, Taliperu, Kinnerasani and several others as they have received surplus water with continuing inflows.