TB Main Canal to Release 1,800 cusecs of water downstream

Anantapur: Tungabhadra High Level Main Canal authorities are planning to release 1,800 cusecs of water to Anantapur in AP. The release of water has become possible after canal officials plugged water leakage from the main canal near Bommanahal on the border of AP and Karnataka.

TB High Level Main Canal is the major source of water for districts of Anantapur, Satyasai, Kurnool and Kadapa, including Pulivendula, the home turf of Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.

Sources at Tungabhadra revealed that water storage in TB dam is poor due to adverse impact of South West Monsoon in upstream areas. The dam reportedly peaked up to only 89 TMC feet of water as against its full capacity of 105 TMC feet during the present year.

TB High Level Canal superintendent engineer Rajasekhar said the water released from TB dam for Anantapur will be stored in Penna Ahobilam Balancing Reservoir to supply water to dependent areas till Hindupur, about 200 km away from the reservoir.

About five municipalities, including Anantapur Municipal Corporation, apart from 10 mandals, depend throughout the year on Penna Ahobilam for drinking water.

Farmers under the High Level Main Canal have cultivated paddy in Kanekal and Bommanahal mandals, hoping for water from the TB dam. Their prayer is that TB dam will receive heavy inflows from upstream projects during the present season.