With the Yeleru reservoir water levels depleting, release of water from the Sileru power generation station and decrease in agriculture demand has saved the situation for GVMC that is dependent on the reservoir to maintain supply to the city and industry.
While 110 cusecs of water is pumped from Yeleru, 150 cusecs are pumped from the Godavari pumping scheme at Kateru. The three pumps at the Kateru Scheme near Rajahmundry are working with the Godavari level reaching 13.6 meters.
With the release of water from Sileru, the average water flow in the Godavari remains around 1500 cusecs.
While 4 MGD to 5 MGD was given to Visakhapatnam Steel Plant on Thursday, it went up to 12 MGD on Friday, sources said. It will be between 20 MGD and 25 MGD on Saturday and is expected to further improve by Sunday.
On Friday, the domestic supply to Gajuwaka was 5 MGD.
The water released at Yeleswaram through the 153-km canal is likely to reach the Kanithi Balancing Reservoir in four days.
The situation is likely to improve in another two days with a total of around 55 MGD expected from the Yeleru canal.
Another factor that contributed to the improved supply is the coming to an end of the irrigation demand in the Godavari and Yeleru canal as well. From Yeleru some release is made to meet drinking water needs in some villages skirting the canal.
With the situation turning more critical and Yeleru water depleting, the second stage pumping that began in mid-April is likely to be stopped by May 15. The pumping may continue only if some rain occurs in the interregnum.
According to sources in GVMC, alternative water sources are being explored to tide over the crisis.
Canal closure
Though not even the minimum annual closure of 45 days is taken for maintenance of the canal because of the demand, de-silting is being taken up, it is learnt.
The carrying capacity has been increased from 200 cusecs to 300 cusecs and is expected to be further increased to 400 cusecs.
The government is also aware of the need to close the canal for maintenance and in all probability it could be done this year, it is learnt.
Not closing the canal for maintenance will also affect structures like under tunnels and bridges across the canal.
