The gates of Almatti Dam have been lifted again to release nearly 20,000 cusecs through the spillway. Another 42,000 cusecs is being released after power generation from the project with a sudden increase of inflows of 60,000 cusecs on Wednesday.
The reservoir on the Tungabhadra, a tributary of Krishna River, has also recorded an inflow of 22,734 cusecs and over 10,000 cusecs is being discharged from the dam after the diversion of 11,000 cusecs into irrigation canals.
Reservoirs brimming
While Almatti and Tungabhadra are full to the brim (Almatti 99% and Tungabhadra 100%), Srisailam is only 82% full forcing the authorities to reduce the releases to the Pottyreddipadu Head Regulator (PRPHR) and also cutting down power generation. About 40 tmcft was needed to fill it. “With the inflows to Almatti and Tungabhadra increasing, inflows could also be expected to Srisailam which was crucial for providing water to Rayalaseema and Telangana,” Irrigation Department officials said.
Relief to Rayalaseema
Water released from PRPHR would fill up drinking water and other tanks in the drought-prone Rayalaseema districts. About 2,000 cusecs was also being lifted from the Srisailam Reservoir by the Handri-Neeva Srujala Sravanti Lift Irrigation Scheme. Similarly 2,400 cusecs was being lifted by the Mahatma Gandhi Kalwakurthy Lift Irrigation Scheme (MGKLIS) for Telangana.
The water level in Srisailam dam was 877.7 ft on Wednesday and water could be released from PRPHR until the level in the reservoir was 854 ft. There is a flood cushion of nearly 40 tmcft in the dam, Irrigation officials said.