AWFUL SIGHT: The Godavari in spate at Rajahmundry on Thursday.

DHAWALESWARAM (RAJAHMUNDRY): As the flood water inflows increased substantially into the upper stream of the Godavari, the Central Water Department officials doubled the discharge of surplus water into the sea from 2 lakh cusecs to 4 lakh cusecs by Thursday evening. Water level at the Dhawaleswaram Barrage is 9.40 feet (it was 10.05 in last year).

According to CWD officials, the first danger level signal is 11.75 feet, the second danger level 13.75 feet and third and final danger level is 17.75 feet. In the last three years, the Godavari has not touched the third level and it was in 2001 that it touched 17.59 feet, after all the 175 gates of the barrage were lifted. However, the flood levels at Bhadrachalam reached 30.90 feet on Thursday morning, but started receding by evening.

Releases increased

Meanwhile, irrigation officials increased the release of water by 500 cusecs to the delta areas on Thursday, considering the flood situation. All the three deltas--eastern, central and western--put together were released 12,800 cusecs on Thursday morning.

Our Srikakulam Special Correspondent writes: Water was released into the Left Main Canal (LMC) of the Vamsadhara Project on Thursday. The release of water was delayed by more than a week due to a prolonged dry spell in the catchment area. Initially, 180 cusecs of water was released and would be increased gradually. According to K.B.Rajendra Prasad, who formally released the water, the ayacut under the Right Main Canal (RMC) would get water after about a week. The mandals of Narasannapeta,Polaki, Santhabommali, Nandigam, Palasa,Tekkali, Jalumuru and Heeramandalam would be covered under the LMC.

However, farmers in other areas of the district continue to wait for rain to start farming operations. Except for the rain caused by depression a couple of days ago, the district continues to be under a dry spell.

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