Heavy inflows to NSP reservoir raise hopes

Nagarjunasagar: The water level in Nagarjuna Sagar Project (NSP) has been increasing tremendously following the heavy inflows. The water level in NSP reservoir was recorded at 540 feet as against the full reservoir level of 590 feet on Saturday. As the water from Srisailam Dam was released downstream into Nagarjuna Sagar Project, the inflow in NSP increased to 2,68,537 cusecs. Twenty days ago, the water level in Nagarjuna Sagar Project was below 500 feet.

According to official information, at present, the Nagarjuna Sagar Project water level is 540 feet which is equal to 187.70 tmcft as against total capacity of 312 tmcft. The water level in the project had been increasing from hour to hour and on average as many as 20 tmcft water per day is joining the reservoir. “If the inflows from Srisailam continue at the same level then the reservoir will reach Full Reservoir Level (FRL) within a week,” NSP SE Ramesh said.

The NSP officials are closely monitoring the rate of inflows and are informing the status to the government at regular intervals for future course of action.
The outflow from Nagarjuna Sagar Project was 1300 cusecs to Srisailam Left Bank Canal for drinking water purpose. The increasing water levels in NSP have raised new hopes for the farmers of the ayacut.

Speaking to The Hans India, Rythu Sangam Leader Nagireddy said farmers of NSP ayacut were facing music for the last three years due to scarcity of water in the project. Apart from this, the cultivated ID crops like cotton and chilli were damaged due to recent rains. He demanded that both the Telangana and Andhra Pradesh governments take an early decision on releasing of water to left and right canals to cater the irrigation needs of farmers. He added otherwise the Krishna water goes waste and merges into sea once the water releases from the crust gates of the project.