Water levels in major reservoirs, except a couple of them, in the Krishna basin continue to remain low even in the second week of July as heavy rains keep shying away from the major catchment areas in Maharashtra and Karnataka.
The position of current water storage in projects in the Godavari basin is no better either even as they present a better picture, mainly thanks to the carryover storage of the last water year. The reservoirs in Godavari basin, however, received less inflows this season compared to those in Krishna basin.
According to the Irrigation Department officials, inflows up to 10,000 cusecs for over a week towards the end of June have improved the water level in Jurala as it has received a flood of 5.92 TMC ft so far this season. Similarly, storage in Almatti reservoir in Karnataka now is better than year as it has received a flood of over 31.5 TMC ft so far with constant inflows of over 20,000 cusecs for the last 10 days.
The water levels in all other major projects in the Krishna basin, including in the neighbouring States, is poor compared to their water-holding during the same period last year. “Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar reservoirs, which hold key for the water needs of the two Telugu states, have received fresh water of only 2.75 TMC ft together this season and they require over 390 TMC ft water to reach their full capacity”, a senior engineer of Nagarjunasagar project said.With the weatherman forecasting least possibility of getting heavy rains in the catchment areas till the fourth week of this month, the prospects of reservoirs in the upper reaches of the basin in Maharashtra and Karnakata for now appear very grim.
“Almatti and Narayanpur reservoirs in Karnataka have a flood cushion of over 110 TMC ft till date and we can expect release of water into Telugu states only after the two dams are impounded fully,” the senior engineer said.
The water level in the inter-state project, Tungabhadra was pathetic, just over one TMC ft, but for the 11.6 TMC ft flood received during the last 10 days. Although Ujjani dam based on Bhima, the major tributary of Krishna, in Maharashtra has a good level with the help of carryover storage now, it has received only 5 TMC ft flood this season and it needs another 62.5 TMC ft water for reaching its capacity.Similar is the position of reservoirs in the Godavari basin with no major flood received so far this season. No major project, including Jayakwadi in Maharashtra, has received even 3 TMC ft of fresh water so far, although levels appear comparatively better due to carryover storage.
