AP moves to capture flood surge as reservoirs gain 21 TMC

Amaravati: The state government is moving to capture the surge in river flows triggered by heavy rains, with storage in 29 reservoirs rising by about 21 TMC in three days even as several districts face inundation and crop damage.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who reviewed the flood and rainfall situation with senior officials through a teleconference on Saturday, directed the authorities to make maximum use of the additional water while continuing relief and rescue operations.

The combined storage in 29 reservoirs increased from 101 TMC on September 23 by around 21 TMC by September 26. Of this, 11 projects in North Andhra gained about 5 TMC, while 18 reservoirs in Kakinada, Polavaram, Alluri Sitarama Raju, Eluru, Palnadu, Nellore, Kurnool, Kadapa and Anantapur districts recorded another 16 TMC.

The sharpest increases were reported in North Andhra. Inflows into Gotta Barrage in the Vamsadhara basin rose from 7,214 cusecs on September 20 to 47,100 cusecs on September 25. At Narayanapuram Anicut in the Nagavali basin, inflows surged from 2,100 to 49,800 cusecs, while Madduvvalasa Project saw inflows rise from 918 to nearly 18,000 cusecs, lifting storage from 1.61 TMC to 2.79 TMC.

Inflows at Thotapalli Barrage increased from 2,484 to about 23,250 cusecs. In the Godavari basin, Donkarayi storage rose from 11.67 TMC to 15.78 TMC and Seeleru reservoir storage from 1.52 TMC to 3.90 TMC. Dowleswaram flows increased from 1.20 lakh to 3.50 lakh cusecs.

In the Krishna basin, Prakasam Barrage inflows rose from 8,187 to 40,521 cusecs, while Munneru flows increased from 3,210 to 9,000 cusecs.

Naidu directed officials to fill small and medium water bodies wherever possible and to divert available water into reservoirs. He also called for proposals for a new barrage between Pulichintala and Prakasam Barrage and another downstream of Prakasam Barrage to be submitted to the Centre.

He ordered expediting power supply to the Hiramandalam Lift Project and completion of works to divert Vamsadhara water into Hiramandalam reservoir.

Meanwhile, officials said the State's rainfall deficit had narrowed from 50 per cent to 31 per cent. The deficit stood at 19.80 per cent in Coastal Andhra and 42 per cent in Rayalaseema.

With fishermen unable to venture into the sea for five days, Naidu ordered distribution of 50 kg of rice free to each affected fishing family. He also directed officials to maintain close monitoring and ensure relief reaches inundated areas without delay.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

K Varaprasada Rao

K Varaprasada Rao[email protected]

K Varaprasada Rao is a Senior Reporter with The Hans India, covering the Andhra Pradesh Secretariat, Chief Minister's Office (CMO), State Legislative Assembly, Legislative Council and political affairs. With over 20 years of experience in journalism in Andhra Pradesh, he has extensively reported on governance, public policy, politics, and socio-economic issues that shape the state's development and influence the country's evolving landscape. He holds a postgraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. His reporting focuses on finance, industries, irrigation, agriculture, infrastructure, investment, public administration, and political developments, with a particular interest in analysing their long-term economic and social impact.

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