The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Depleting levels in Krishna add to officials' woes

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Sep 03, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Depleting levels in Krishna add to officials' woes

By M. Malleswara Rao

HYDERABAD, SEPT. 2. Floods in the Krishna have receded affecting the flow at the 350-odd ghats and temples in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh adding to the woes of officials who are concerned over the depleting number of pilgrims for the Pushkarams.

The flow has reduced to a thin trickle in the upper reaches right from Mahabaleswar except at dam sites due to the sudden dry spell. The Venna, Gayathri, Koyna and Savithri, which join the Krishna from the Western ghats are "in a trickle," according to Central Water Commission official here.

Floods in the main tributaries such as Bhima, Ghata Prabha, Mala Prabha and Tungabhadra have also came to an end. Water management striking a balance between irrigation and Pushkaram needs has become a major headache to them.

No flow

The Maharashtra stretch of the river is devoid of much flow due to lack of any dam worth the name which can hold the flow and release it when required. Alamatti and Narayanapur are almost full but their gates were closed today. Within the State, there are are no significant releases from Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar except for power generation depriving the ghats in the river's middle stretches of sufficient water.

At Vijayawada, the river-bed is visible downstream the Prakasam Barrage, as officials are more worried about Krishna delta, opting not to let out any outflow into the main river and serve the Pushkaram ghats. As a result, almost all the ghats up to Hamsaladeevi where the Krishna joins the sea, are without flow or sufficient depths. This is against a Central environment rule to ensure a minimum flow in a river after its last harnessing point to allow birds and animals to survive.

Uneven depths

Choking the river at several points downstream areas has resulted in a "lop-sided" depths at the ghats. At Sangameswar, the ghats are submerged, while the waters lapped the banks in waves threatening pilgrims at many places in Nalgonda district. At Lingalagattu, fear prevails among the pilgrims as the river suddenly rises or falls here because of the discharges from the Srisailam hydel station.

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