Srisailam Hydro Power Cuts Water Release for Agriculture

Kurnool: Paddy farmers in Nandyal district, under the Kurnool-Cuddapah canal, are in distress due to a fall in water levels in the Srisailam reservoir.

The water allocated from the dam for power generation is hindering the cultivation of the second crop. Farmers have been advised to restrict themselves to dry crops during the rabi season.

This was despite the generation of 1,165 million units of hydropower, surpassing the 1,000 million units targeted for the 2024-25 fiscal year.

The Srisailam reservoir began receiving floodwater in the second week of July this year, with the radial crest gates being raised six times to accommodate flood inflows from the Krishna (Jurala), Tungabhadra (Sunkesula) and Handri rivers.

A total of 1,418tmc of floodwater entered the reservoir, with 667tmc passing through the spillway, 504tmc allocated for power generation, and 200tmc directed towards irrigation through canals, bringing the total inflow to 1,488tmc.

Water from Muchumarri to the KC canal ayacut can be released only if the water level in the Srisailam reservoir reaches 812 feet. The designated Rabi cultivation area in the joint Kurnool district spans 92,000 acres under the KC Canal, which relies on this water release.

However, water reserves in Srisailam have diminished. It will take another month to harvest crops like chillies, sorghum, millet, and maize, while the paddy harvesting has begun. Fields are being readied for the rabi season, with sowing expected to start by January end.

Water level in the dam has decreased by 58 per cent due to power generation and other uses.

“The Nandyal district still needs to utilize its allocated 7tmc of water from the Tungabhadra river. Engineers have indicated that up to 1,000 cusecs of water may be released from Muchumarri to the KC canal. However, we are frustrated by the district administration’s failure to refer this critical water issue to the chief minister,” said R Mallikarjuna from Muchumarri.

They are also expressing dissent over the district in-charge minister Payyavula Keshav’s recommendation to avoid cultivating a second paddy crop and focus solely on dry crops during the rabi season.

The minister stated that only 27tmc of water from the Srisailam reservoir may be available.

Farmers are also criticising the large volumes of dam water being released for power generation, which they say neglects the agricultural needs. Minister Keshav’s suggestion to utilize water for 64,000 acres under the Telugu Ganga, 1 lakh acres under the SRBC, and 60,000 acres under the KC canal until March 31 for dry crops has added to their frustration.

Now, farmers are anxiously awaiting a decision from the state government in this respect.