Steady Rainfall Builds Telangana Reservoir Storage, Easing Water Concerns

After a slow start to the monsoon, Telangana's major reservoirs in the Krishna and Godavari basins are witnessing a steady build-up in water storage. Inflows from upstream catchment areas and local rainfall have improved water levels in several key reservoirs, providing some relief to the region's irrigation and drinking water needs.

Reservoirs such as Jurala, Srisailam, Nizamsagar, Sriramsagar, Yellampally, and Kaddam, which were earlier holding water at or below dead storage levels, have started receiving flood flows. The Jurala project has resumed operations, with its canal systems and lift schemes now filling linked tanks across the region.

In the Godavari basin, the Kaleshwaram project is actively drawing floodwater. Five pumps each at the Nandi Medaram and Laximpalli pumphouses have been operational for the past few days, transferring 15,750 cusecs from Yellampally reservoir to Mid Manair reservoir. Local streams have supplemented this, bringing the total inflow to Mid Manair at 17,500 cusecs. As of Friday evening, Mid Manair held 10.61 tmc ft against its full capacity of 27.5 tmc ft.

Forecast models, including those from the Meteorological department, project continued inflows in the coming days. The Alamatti and Narayanpur dams in Karnataka are expected to receive around 50,000 cusecs until August 11, with most of the water likely to be discharged downstream towards Jurala. In the Godavari basin, inflows of 12,000 cusecs at Singur, 80,000 cusecs at Sriramsagar, and 25,000 cusecs at Yellampally are likely to persist until at least August 6.

Of the 38 medium irrigation reservoirs in the two basins, several have reached surplus capacity, including Chelimalavagu (NTR Sagar), P.P. Rao Project, Gollavagu, Nilwai Project, Ralivagu, Gundlavagu, Taliperu, and Wyra. The state's minor irrigation infrastructure also shows improvement: 21,500 tanks under the Irrigation department currently hold 63 tmc ft, compared to their combined capacity of 254 tmc ft.

Meanwhile, the Godavari river at Bhadrachalam saw a second flood warning issued on Friday evening as water levels crossed the 48-feet mark, with a flow of 12.89 lakh cusecs. The first warning had been issued earlier in the day when the river crossed 43 feet. Residents in low-lying areas have been advised to remain vigilant as flows continue to rise.