Nagarjuna Sagar Dam. (Photo: DC File)
Anantapur: In view of hopeful predictions of the South West Monsoon, irrigation projects of AP and Karnataka, in Krishna basin, may get filled during the rainy season.
A major source of AP is water from Tungabhadra reservoir, an interstate project under Krishna basin, but this has been facing water shortage after failure of the South West monsoon last year.
The Krishna and Pennar basins, major sources for AP, faced acute water shortage in the reservoirs even during early post south west monsoon season. As against a total capacity of 589.67 in Krishna basin, the water sources are confined to 38.18 per cent while the water storage is 72.07 per cent compared to the storage level last year.
The Tungabhadra reservoir reported storage of less than 8 per cent with only 7tmc-ft water against its capacity of 100.86tmc- ft. This was the first time in the history of the TB dam in the past three decades that it ended up in such a worse condition and unable to meet the drinking water and irrigation needs of Rayalaseema region.
Irrigation areas are in worse situations and a panic condition exists even for drinking water in many parts of AP and also TS this season. Power generation was hit after several irrigation projects were at dead storage levels.
The Srisailam Reservoir, another major source of AP and TS, faces acute shortage of water. Srisailam recorded dead storage and the sources of the Handri Neeva Irrigation project of Rayalaseema are also facing water shortage.
Irrigation expert Anandaranga Reddy has observed that the rain deficit has adverse impact on inflows from upstream areas during the early south west monsoon season.
The PAB reservoir of Anantapur, the central drinking water source of Anantapur and Satya Sai districts, was having only 2.13tmc-ft as against a gross storage capacity of 11.1tmc-ft. Farmers depending on the canals are fearful of massive damage to crops due to lack of water.
However, timely heavy rainfall predictions during the south west monsoon kindled hopes on filling of the projects under Krishna basin.
The Krishna and Pennar basins, major sources for AP, faced acute water shortage in the reservoirs even during early post south west monsoon season. As against a total capacity of 589.67 in Krishna basin, the water sources are confined to 38.18 per cent while the water storage is 72.07 per cent compared to the storage level last year.
The Tungabhadra reservoir reported storage of less than 8 per cent with only 7tmc-ft water against its capacity of 100.86tmc- ft. This was the first time in the history of the TB dam in the past three decades that it ended up in such a worse condition and unable to meet the drinking water and irrigation needs of Rayalaseema region.
Irrigation areas are in worse situations and a panic condition exists even for drinking water in many parts of AP and also TS this season. Power generation was hit after several irrigation projects were at dead storage levels.
The Srisailam Reservoir, another major source of AP and TS, faces acute shortage of water. Srisailam recorded dead storage and the sources of the Handri Neeva Irrigation project of Rayalaseema are also facing water shortage.
Irrigation expert Anandaranga Reddy has observed that the rain deficit has adverse impact on inflows from upstream areas during the early south west monsoon season.
The PAB reservoir of Anantapur, the central drinking water source of Anantapur and Satya Sai districts, was having only 2.13tmc-ft as against a gross storage capacity of 11.1tmc-ft. Farmers depending on the canals are fearful of massive damage to crops due to lack of water.
However, timely heavy rainfall predictions during the south west monsoon kindled hopes on filling of the projects under Krishna basin.
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
Next Story
