NALGONDA: The impact of El Nino has left the Nagarjunasagar reservoir with inadequate water inflows, causing hydel power generation to plunge to nearly one-third of previous levels. The main hydroelectric power station generated only 469.80 million units (MU) between April 1 and October 28 in the current financial year (2026-27), against its annual target of 1,500 MU, raising doubts over its ability to meet the target.
The shortfall comes amid a lack of expected flood inflows from upstream areas. With the monsoon nearing its end and inflows reportedly drying up, the reservoir’s water level stood at 537 feet, well below its full reservoir level (FRL) of 590 feet.
The situation contrasts with the previous financial year, when the reservoir reached its FRL on July 29. All 26 crest gates were lifted thrice between July and October to release large volumes of water into the Krishna river, enabling full-scale hydel generation from July 29. The station achieved its target of 1,450 MU by September 30 and ended the year with a record generation of 2,572.04 MU.
Telangana GENCO Chief Engineer V Mangesh Kumar told TNIE that generation at the Nagarjunasagar main hydro-electric power station had fallen to 469.80 MU up to October 28 this year. He said the plant had consistently met its annual generation targets over the past decade, except in 2023-24, when water scarcity restricted output to 540.83 MU against a target of 1,400 MU.
Experts said inadequate reservoir storage and dwindling inflows could make it difficult to achieve this year’s target of 1,500 MU.