VIJAYAWADA: Krishna river is in spate with heavy rains lashing its catchment. For the first time in the last 14 months, water was released downstream of Prakasam Barrage to the sea at the rate of 19,000 cusecs.
The rains upstream of the barrage had ensured enough water in Pulichintala Reservoir to last for another three months, which along with river water share allocated by Krishna River Water Management Board, water from Pattiseema would take care of Kharif needs.
Till a week ago, both irrigation and agriculture officials were a worried lot, with not enough water at Prakasam Barrage for releasing it to the tail end areas of the canals in Krishna delta. “In areas like Kruthivennu and Bantumilli, there were increasing complaints of lack of water for even drinking water purpose,” an irrigation official said.
The situation has changed since the last three days and on Wednesday even the last point in the last mile of the canals are being provided sufficient water. “The inflows in the Krishna river upstream of Prakasam Barrage has increased phenomenally since early hours of Wednesday, with heavy downpour in Palnadu region, Dachepalle in Guntur district and Munneru region of Krishna district,” Krishna delta superintending engineer S Sugunakar Rao said.
At 5 am on Wednesday the outflow from Prakasam Barrage was 8,500 cusecs and by evening it increased to 19,000 cusecs and the release of the surplus water downstream of Prakasam Barrage is expected to continue till Thursday night of Friday morning. In view of the release of Krishna water to the sea, people along the river course downstream of the barrage and those living and cultivating in river islets were put on alert.
It was in June last year, when the water from the Prakasam Barrage was released last time. Irrigation officials are buoyed by heavy rains upstream of Pulichintala, from where the outflow was stopped four days ago.
“At Pulichintala we have impounded 14.5 TMCFT of water at present with inflows being 72,000 cusecs. We are expecting it to cross 20 tmc soon and plan to store upto 30 tmcft. There are issues like evacuation of some villages upstream of Pulichintala, that are being discussed with TS government,” Rao said.