3 weeks ago
Srisailam Hydel Generation Review Weighs Drinking Water Priority
There is a very big reservoir in India called Srisailam that stores water from rivers.
The water is used for many things, like drinking, watering farms, and making electricity.
This year, less water has been flowing into the reservoir than usual.
A lot of water is being used every day to make electricity.
Officials are worried that if they keep making electricity, there may not be enough water for people to drink in the coming months.
So they are thinking about stopping electricity generation to save water.
Farmers are having a hard time because the fields do not have enough water.
Some farmers grew small chilli plants but cannot move them into the fields.
Fewer rice crops mean rice prices are going up in nearby markets.
The officials will decide in a day or two what to do with the water.
Inflows into the Srisailam reservoir have fallen sharply, prompting officials to review hydel power generation.
Officials are considering suspending the right and left bank power stations to conserve water for drinking needs.
Hydel generation is consuming nearly 5 tmc ft of water a day, with 48,512 cusecs used for power and 11,528 cusecs for canals.
The reservoir holds 178.74 tmc ft against a full capacity of 215.807 tmc ft, with low storages hurting Kurnool and Nandyal districts.
Only about 20 per cent of the normal paddy area has been cultivated so far, and a final decision is expected within a day or two.
- Who
- Officials of the Water Resources Department in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, including Superintending Engineer S. Kabir of Kurnool.
- What
- A review of hydel power generation at the Srisailam reservoir, with suspension being considered to conserve water for drinking.
- Where
- Srisailam reservoir, affecting downstream areas in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, especially Kurnool and Nandyal districts.
- When
- As of August 9, with a final decision expected within a day or two.
- Why
- Declining inflows mean continued hydel generation may leave insufficient water for drinking needs in the coming months.
Drinking Water Priority
Power and Farming Needs
Suspending hydel generation
Drinking Water Priority
Stopping hydel generation could conserve nearly 5 tmc ft of water a day and ensure supplies for drinking needs in the coming months.
Power and Farming Needs
Continuing generation would maintain electricity output, but officials warn it could leave insufficient water even for drinking.
Water for irrigation
Drinking Water Priority
Officials say priority will be given only to drinking water, with possibly no water available for irrigation this season.
Power and Farming Needs
Farmers facing crop losses hope for water releases to save seasonal crops such as chilli and paddy, which need water to transplant and grow.
Key facts
- Reservoir
- Srisailam Reservoir
- Full capacity
- 215.807 tmc ft
- Present storage
- 178.74 tmc ft
- Water used for power generation
- 48,512 cusecs
- Water released for canals
- 11,528 cusecs
- Daily hydel water consumption
- Nearly 5 tmc ft
- Paddy cultivation coverage
- Around 20 per cent of normal area
- Decision expected
- Within a day or two
Quotes
S. Kabir
Superintending Engineer, Water Resources Department, Kurnool
“"If we continue power generation at this pace, the available water may not suffice even for drinking purposes in the coming months,"”
deccanchronicle.com
C. Umamaheswara Reddy
Farmer from Velugodu
“"We raised chilli nurseries by investing money, but there is no water to transplant them into fields. We are completely helpless."”
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
Related news
Andhra Pradesh Seeks Halt to Srisailam Power Generation
Srisailam Power Generation Drawal Raises Drinking Water Concerns
Power Generation Resumes at Srisailam as Inflows Stabilise
Srisailam Reservoir Storage Falls as Irrigation Concerns Grow
Srisailam Reservoir Inflows Cross 2 Lakh Cusecs, Storage 100 TMC
