The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Water likely for Sagar left canal

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Feb 24, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Water likely for Sagar left canal

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, FEB. 23. After a considerable lapse of time, the Srisailam hydel complex began generation this evening to ensure inflows to Nagarjunasagar for saving standing crops under its ayacut. The decision to run the Srisailam stations was taken at an emergency meeting held to review the situation in the Nagarjunasagar ayacut. To start with, Srisailam began using the Left Bank powerhouse to generate 400 MW, resulting in the release of 10,000 cusecs to Nagarjunasagar.

Water was available in Srisailam as on Wednesday up to 844 ft whereas the minimum required for power generation at that point is 800 ft--a comfortable position without compromising the summer needs. Meanwhile, the Government is contemplating to close the Right Bank Canal of Nagarjunasagar in two to three days to build up storage in the reservoir.

Immediate requirement

Increased releases into the Left Canal is considered as an immediate requirement to save the standing crops in tail-end areas. There are 5.25 lakh acres of standing crops under Left Canal and 8.5 lakh acres under Right Canal.

The water level in Nagarjunasagar now stands at 503.9 ft. At this level, the dam accounts for a quantity of 194 tmcft. Out of this, only 15 tmcft will be available for the canals because the balance goes under "dead storage". With the actual sill-level for the canals being 510 ft, the authorities are already struggling to push water into both canals. They are pinning hopes on Srisailam.

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Andhra Pradesh