CM Revanth orders storage of floodwaters in reservoirs for future needs

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, along with Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy, has directed irrigation officials to ensure that the floodwaters from the ongoing heavy rains are effectively utilised for future needs rather than being wasted. They emphasised the importance of storing the excess water in reservoirs, tanks, and ponds within project areas across the state.

The officials have been instructed to store as much water as possible in the reservoirs of projects like the Mid Manair, Lower Manair Dam, Ranganayak Sagar, and Mallanna Sagar, among others. Specifically, due to the heavy inflow from upstream rains and the Kadam Project, the Sripada Yellampalli Project in Peddapalli district has reached near capacity. The Yellampalli gates have been opened to release water into the Godavari River.

The Chief Minister further instructed that as much floodwater as possible be lifted from Yellampalli using the Nandi and Gayatri pump houses, ensuring a daily draw of at least one TMC. This water should then be used to fill reservoirs across the region. The Mid Manair reservoir, currently holding 15 TMC out of its 27 TMC capacity, is receiving water from Yellampalli through the Nandi and Gayatri pump houses.

From Mid Manair, over 14,000 cusecs are being transferred to the Lower Manair Dam, and an additional 6,400 cusecs are being routed to Ranganayak Sagar via the Annapurna reservoir. Water from Ranganayak Sagar is being pumped to fill Mallanna Sagar and Konda Pochamma Sagar reservoirs, and further down to Singur and Nizam Sagar projects.

At present, the Annapurna and Ranganayak Sagar reservoirs have a combined storage of 7.52 TMC, while Mallanna Sagar has a capacity of 50 TMC, currently holding 11.43 TMC. Kondapochamma Sagar, with a capacity of 15 TMC, has 7.91 TMC stored. The CM instructed that water be stored up to 18-20 TMC in Mallanna Sagar and 10 TMC in Kondapochamma Sagar, following the guidelines set by the Central Water Commission.

Additionally, water from Konda Pochamma Sagar is to be transferred to the Nizam Sagar Project via the Haldi Vagu stream, securing water availability for future needs.