Seven of the twelve gates of Srisailam reservoir in Andhra Pradesh were opened by the state's Water Resources Minister D Umamaheswara Rao on Saturday, which released water into the downstream Nagarjunasagar reservoir.
The Minister, who oversaw the opening of four gates in the morning, said that the water was being released as per the guidelines issued by the Central Water Commission (CWC), following which three more gates were opened.
According to a report in TNIE, the outflow from Srisailam as of 8 pm was recorded at 2.89 lakh cusecs, with the reservoir holding 198.36 tmc ft against its full capacity of 215.81 tmc ft.
Other media reports quote the Minister stating that the dam’s safety would be given highest priority as it was developing structural weakness ever since a ditch was formed in the plunge pool area.
Srisailam dam's full capacity is 885 feet, and its dead storage level is 800 feet. The full capacity of the Nagarjuna Sagar dam is 590 feet, while its dead storage level is 510 feet.
Presently, officials said that the Nagarjuna Sagar dam had a water level of about 530 feet, even as the CWC said that more water would enter Srisailam.
With this, the Krishna river flowing through Andhra is in spate and has brought major relief to farmers in the region.
Earlier this week, with the Godavari river swelling, Andhra Pradesh had declared high alert in two districts while Telangana had declared the same in one district.
Nimmakayala Chinarajappa, the state’s Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Disaster Management, has directed the Water Resources Department officials to take urgent steps to prevent breaches in canal bunds along the Godavari.
As a precautionary measure, a ban on travelling by boat is in place in the affect regions.
Control rooms have been opened in East and West Godavari districts while two relief camps were set up in Rajamahendravaram in East Godavari, said the state Disaster Management Authority.