Irrigation officials ready to deal with Godavari floods

Rajamahendravaram: Godavari Head Works (GHW) of Dowleswaram Irrigation Circle executive engineer R Mohan Rao said that precautionary measures were taken to face any possible floods as the monsoon has commenced.

Speaking to The Hans India here on Thursday, Mohan Rao said there was a scope for flood to River Godavari in a fortnight as there were heavy rains in its catchment area and floodwater would reach here after reaching full level in the reservoirs upstream of the river. At present, 20,000 cusecs of water is coming into the river from its catchment areas.

The river bund for a length of 535 km was strengthened and raised to a height of two metres, on the basis of 1986 floods when 35 lakh cusecs of water was released from Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage which is highest from the year 1953 to till date. In 1953 floods, as many as 21.74 lakh cusecs of water was released into the sea from old Cotton anicut and after that 26 lakh cusecs of water was released in 1986 floods and 22 lakh cusecs water was released in 2006 floods.

The three are major floods in which lakhs of cusecs of water was released into the sea. The executive engineer said respective section engineers were directed to check the condition of river bund from time to time. All flood material such as sand bags, torchers, ropes, wooden poles, cement bags, gunny bags, etc. are kept ready at stock points at Dowleswaram,Rajamahendravaram, Kovvur, Razole and other places. 

Mohan Rao said flood preparedness meeting have also held with the respective departments.  At old anicut, the first warning level is 8 feet, second warning level is 10 feet and third warning  level is 14 feet and at Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage, the first warning level is 11.75 feet, second warning level is 13.75 feet and third warning level is 17.75 feet, he said. 

He said the condition of Sir Arthur Barrage Cotton was good and as per government directions, movement of heavy vehicles was barred on the barrage for several years.