The Telangana State Power Generation Corporation (TSGENCO) has reportedly begun to operate the reverse pumping facility at the Srisailam Left Bank power house for the last three days, so as to maintain the water level in the reservoir at 854 feet.
As per sources, a total of 1,149 cusecs of water were pumped back into the reservoir in the 24 hours preceding 6 a.m. on Tuesday. The same on Monday stood at 3,777 cusecs, and on Sunday, at 2937 cusecs.
Reverse pumping facility at Srisailam was meant to be used to pump back water used for power generation, so that the reservoir level would be maintained. The pump is usually operated when surplus energy is available, as it would need 10 to 20 per cent more power than can be produced with the same quantity of water.
The decision to reverse-pump the water now, however, indicates a shift in the Telangana government’s earlier posture that 834 feet would be taken as the minimum draw down level (MDDL), as per the GO. No. 69 issued in 1996.
Government of Andhra Pradesh had, instead, cited another GO issued in 2004, which increased the MDDL to 854 feet, in support of its claims for drinking water to Rayalaseema.
The issue was taken to the Krishna River Management Board’s notice, which had asked the Telangana government to maintain the reservoir levels. To this, Minister for Irrigation T. Harish Rao had responded saying that power generation would continue till the reservoir levels reached 834 feet.
