Rayalaseema projects witnessing heavy flows

ANANTAPUR: A peculiar situation prevails at projects of Rayalaseema following heavy flows locally, even as upstream projects are discharging less quantity of outflows from downstream into Krishna and Pennar basins.

The situation has been brought up by constant overflowing of channels connecting to Chitravati, Pennar and Tungabhadra rivers and big irrigation tanks overflowing, disrupting traffic and cutting road connectivity to many parts in the region.

Overflowing of Pennar and its subsidiary rivers Jayamangali and Chitravati in Hindupur area have filled Kotnur, one of the biggest tanks in the region.

Overflowing of water on the main road from its tank bund has disrupted traffic in the area for the past one week. Kotnur road is the only access towards Hindupur municipality from Anantapur and Penukonda areas. Buses are being driven with great difficulty.

A culvert got damaged at Dommathamarri of Karnataka en route to Madakasira from Penukonda, thereby disrupting traffic. Students returning home for Diwali following their vacation had to travel over alternate route, as the culvert connected to Murarirayana Cheruvu of Pennar River is overflowing.

Srisailam Reservoir has been receiving heavy inflows since past few weeks. The reservoir is releasing about 2.90 lakh cusecs of inflows while the outflow is 3.22 lakh cusecs as on Saturday. Ten crest gates of Srisailam have been lifted to discharge the excess heavy floods into the river. Similar is the case of Nagarjunasagar that is receiving 3.18 lakh cusecs of water and releasing similar outflows.

BT project is witnessing heavy flows from upstream Karnataka in Gummagatta mandal. Project authorities said they have released 15,768 cusecs of water downstream into the Hagari River.