Archive · 18 Aug 2026
Srisailam Power Generation Drawal Raises Drinking Water Concerns
The Srisailam reservoir stores water for people, farms, and electricity production.
Its incoming water has recently fallen sharply.
Kadapa MP Y.S. Avinash Reddy is worried that too much water is being used to make power.
He said the reservoir could fall from about 876.5 feet to about 854 feet.
At that lower level, taking water out could become difficult.
This could affect drinking water and irrigation systems.
The systems he mentioned include Telugu Ganga, KC Canal, and GNSS.
He asked officials to send 5,000 cusecs of water to the Kundu River for drinking water.
Kadapa MP Y.S. Avinash Reddy urged priority for drinking water and irrigation from Srisailam reservoir.
The reservoir was reported to hold about 170.6 TMC at a water level of 876.5 feet.
Telangana Genco was reportedly using around 40,955 cusecs daily for power generation despite declining inflows.
Reddy warned continued drawal could lower the reservoir to about 854 feet and create drought-like conditions.
He sought an immediate release of at least 5,000 cusecs into the Kundu River for regional drinking water needs.
- Who
- Kadapa MP Y.S. Avinash Reddy, the Andhra Pradesh water resources department, and Telangana Genco.
- What
- A request to prioritize drinking water and irrigation over reservoir water use for power generation.
- When
- The timing is not specified; the request was made in a letter to the water resources department principal secretary.
- Where
- The Srisailam reservoir and the Kundu River region, affecting systems including Telugu Ganga, KC Canal, and GNSS.
- Why
- Inflows into the reservoir had declined, while continued power-generation drawal could lower water levels and threaten drinking water and irrigation supplies.
- Reservoir water level
- About 876.5 feet
- Available water
- About 170.6 TMC
- Reported power-generation drawal
- Around 40,955 cusecs daily
- Potential lower reservoir level
- About 854 feet
- Requested Kundu River release
- At least 5,000 cusecs
- Concerned official
- Y.S. Avinash Reddy, Kadapa MP
- Potentially affected systems
- Telugu Ganga, KC Canal, and GNSS