Gates of Srisailam Dam to be lifted today

ANANTAPUR: AP irrigation authorities have decided to life two gates of the Srisailam Dam on Saturday after water level in the reservoir reached 881.3 feet on Friday morning against full reservoir level (FRL) of 885 feet. Further, the dam is continuing to receive 1.92 lakh cusecs of water from upstream Tungabhadra, Almatti and Jurala reservoirs.

Srisailam project superintendent engineer P. Sreemachandra Murthy said two radial crest gates will be lifted after irrigation minister Ambati Rambabu performs the pooja.

While inflows into Srisailam are 1.92 lakh cusecs, authorities are releasing 51,164 cusecs; 19,000 cusecs of it towards power generation by Telangana, with the remaining going to Pothireddypadu, HNSS and Kalwakurthy Lift Irrigation Scheme.

Upstream Almatti dam has filled up to 77 percent of its storage and is continuing to receive 80,000 cusecs of inflows. Only 45,000 cusecs of water is being released downstream. Tungabhadra Dam level is being maintained at its full storage capacity of 100.85 TMC feet. While it is receiving inflows of 83,000 cusecs, dam authorities are releasing 61 thousand cusecs into the river. Another connecting reservoir Jurala is receiving 81,000 cusecs and releasing 67,000 cusecs towards Srisailam.

Srisailam Dam has total 12 radial crest gates. The minister will open two of them on Saturday. Subsequently, based on available storage and inflows, water will be released towards power generation and to dependent projects in Rayalaseema and Telangana.

Srisailam had reached its dead storage during March this year, reportedly due to heavy usage of water for power generation by Telangana.

Meanwhile, tourists and devotees have started flocking to Srisailam to watch water being released from the dam and perform pooja at Sri Brahmaramba Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple.