Andhra Pradesh - Kurnool   

Kurnool in the grip of water crisis

Staff Reporter

Officials unable to maintain supply as Tungabhadra goes dry

DOWN TO A DRIBBLE: M.A. Gafoor, MLA, examining the flow in the canal from Gajuladinne project on Tuesday as water supply to Kurnool city was affected by drying of Tungabhadra riverbed. - Photo: U. Subramanyam

KURNOOL: The water supply to the city was seriously affected due to drying of Tungabhadra riverbed. MLA M.A. Gafoor and CPI (M) leaders inspected the summer storage tank, KC canal and headwater works on Tuesday.

As against the demand of 100 lakh gallons per day, only 10 lakh gallons could be drawn from the Tugabhadra while another 10 lakh gallons were supplied to Kallur township from the riverbed wells.

Mr. Gafoor criticised the municipal officials for failure to predict the problem and monitor supply to the city. Mr. Gafoor called for a permanent arrangement for letting water into the KC canal from the Gajuladinne canal so that any crisis could be handled smoothly. Now, the bund of KC canal is to be broken to allow the flow into the canal. Also, a cross-bund is to be constructed to impound the water in the canal. The MLA said a permanent structure is needed in order to subject farmers to least disturbance. CPI (M) leaders Pulla Reddy and Prabhakar Reddy accompanied the MLA.

Discharge declines

The flood discharge into the Tungabhadra dam at Hospet declined to 34,179 cusecs on Tuesday. The level in the dam rose to 1,630.26 ft accounting for storage of 93.145 tmcft.

The dam was expected to overflow in a few days. But the declining flood is likely to postpone it further.

The dam is short of 2.5 ft, accounting for a gap of 17 tmcft. The Central Water Commission officials forecast the flood flow into the dam at 26,172 cusecs on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the inflow into Srisailam reservoir rose to 1,50,560 cusecs.

The level rose to 862.90 ft accounting for a storage of 159.265 tmcft.

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Kurnool in the grip of water crisis

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