Heavy rains cause water level to rise in Krishna river

Officers have been asked to take up precautionary measures to avoid any untoward incident along the river both upstream and downstream. Water resources authorities say following incessant rainfall in the catchment areas of Krishna river, Pulichintala project is releasing nearly 3.10 lakh cusecs resulting in an increase in the inflow of water into the river. Authorities lifted 45 gates to their full level while 25 gates were lifted at a height of eight feet to release surplus water from the barrage into the sea.

It may be mentioned that the Krishna river witnessed huge inflows of water resulting in discharge of highest quantum of 5.2 lakh cusecs from Prakasam barrage in 2022.

Krishna river conservator P.V.R. Krishna Rao said, “As we are getting huge inflows of water into the Krishna river, nearly 3.6 lakh cusecs of flood water is being discharged from Prakasam barrage into the sea and the quantum of discharge may go up to four lakh cusecs in the next few hours.”

On the other hand, Nagarjuna Sagar dam is filled to the capacity with storage of 312 tmc ft of water following heavy inflows from the upstream Srisailam project and the authorities are discharging nearly three lakh cusecs of water by lifting all 26 crest gates, downstream towards Pulichinthala and Prakasam barrage. The quantum of water being released from the Nagarjuna Sagar project to the right canal has been reduced to 6,000 cusecs from 9,500 cusecs.