Nagarjunasagar project, one of the crucial points of contention over water sharing between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, came alive on Sunday displaying camaraderie as Ministers representing the two Telugu States jointly released water through its left and right bank canals.
Irrigation Minister of Andhra Pradesh Anil Kumar Yadav and State Education Minister G. Jagadish Reddy, along with legislators from both sides, offered prayers before switching on the motors.
While Mr. Reddy said that Chief Minster K. Chandrasekhar Rao was instrumental for the mutual relationship and development, Mr. Yadav summed up the equation saying “ Kalasi unte kaladhu sukhamu (Living in unity gives happiness) has been proved by both the Chief Ministers.”
And it will be the farmers, on both sides, that will be benefited right away, they said.
The project which recorded water levels lower than the Minimum Draw Down Level of 510 feet as against the Full Reservoir Level of 590 feet in the past fortnight, remained a bleak resource, and diverting water for irrigation was not an option.
However, with flood from upstream projects, and steady inflows from Srisailam project after its gates were lifted on Friday evening, the multipurpose project once again kindled hope for farmers in the downstream areas.
Bringing in more good news for the district, Mr. Reddy also released water from the Alimineti Madhava Reddy canal and the Low Level Canal, which will provide irrigation for about 3.60 lakh acres and 1.66 lakh acres respectively, in Nalgonda and Suryapet.
Gates to be lifted today
In view of heavy inflows from the upstream Srisailam project and steady rise in water level in the Nagarjunasagar Project, Superintending Engineer here I. Madhusudan said the project gates will be operated on Monday.
“Keeping in view the flood in River Krishna, it is proposed to operate the spillway gates at 8 a.m. on Monday,” he said in a release on Sunday evening.
According to the project’s flood bulletin available at 7.30 p.m, NSP received 7,48,462 cusecs of water, while its outflow was at 39,333 cusecs. Huge inflows continued at Srisailam project. The water level rose to 545.10 feet, 45 feet away from its maximum 590 feet, and filled 199.6590 tmc as against the full capacity 312 tmc.
Project officials have already cautioned ground staff, and preparations to operate the gates on Monday are being made.
Ensuring safety, officials and dam personnel have instructed tourism department to temporarily stop all services in and around the Nagarjunasagar project.
