Godavari rising at Cotton Barrage

• Heavy rain in catchment areas of three States
• Flood water receding at Bhadrachalam

Rajahmundry/Bhadrachalam: River Godavari is brimming with flood water. Its level touched 8.50 feet at Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage at Dowlaiswaram on Thursday. The water level is increasing rapidly following heavy rain in the catchment areas in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha.

At Bhadrachalam, the Godavari level reached 33 feet at 7 am. The level fell to 31.7 ft in the evening. The Central Water Commission officials estimate that its level will come down further. However, the water level on the Cheekupalli causeway has not fallen. Transportation to 25 villages remained paralysed. People are using country boats for travel.

Revenue Divisional Officer R Anjaiah inspected the Cheekupalli Wagu. In a related development, officials took up repairs to the sluices of Bhadrachalam bund. The repair work received flak in the context of the rising Godavari level.

Meanwhile, Irrigation officials released 4.55 lakh cusecs into the sea from the Cotton Barrage by lifting all the 175 crest gates.

A part of 12,300 cusecs is being released to agriculture canals in the delta. About 200 tmcft is available in the catchment areas which is equivalent to 30 lakh cusecs. The discharge of flood water from the barrage may reach six lakh cusecs after filling all tributaries and reservoirs in its way.

Rampachodavaram ITDA Project Officer G Chandrudu said boats have been pressed into services to evacuate people from low-lying areas in the agency area keeping the flood level in mind. He said enough ration is available to meet the people’s needs for next month.