Archive · 21 Aug 2026
Andhra Pradesh Plans Hydroelectric Generation From Nagarjuna Sagar
Andhra Pradesh wants to make electricity using water at the Nagarjuna Sagar Right Canal Power House.
The reservoir is currently below the water level needed to start generation.
Officials say it may reach that level in two or three days because water is coming from the Srisailam project.
However, the government must decide how to use the water.
Because of the El Niño effect, officials may first reserve it for drinking water.
Water could be sent through the Right Main Canal to four districts.
The government will decide later whether water can also be used for farming.
About 5,000 cusecs of water are needed to generate one unit of hydroelectric power.
Andhra Pradesh plans to begin hydroelectric generation at the Nagarjuna Sagar Right Canal Power House.
The Nagarjuna Sagar reservoir must rise from 532 feet to 535 feet before generation can start.
Officials expect the required level could be reached within two to three days as water flows from Srisailam.
The government may initially use available water only for drinking-water needs because of the El Niño effect.
Opening the Right Main Canal could supply drinking water to Guntur, Palnadu, Bapatla and Prakasam districts.
- Who
- The Andhra Pradesh government, its water resources department and APGenco officials.
- What
- A plan to generate hydroelectric power from the Nagarjuna Sagar Right Canal Power House, subject to water-level and water-use conditions.
- When
- Officials expect the reservoir could reach the required level in two to three days, though generation could begin only after further decisions.
- Where
- The Nagarjuna Sagar Right Canal Power House in Andhra Pradesh, using water from the Nagarjuna Sagar and upstream Srisailam projects.
- Why
- To generate hydroelectric power while managing water for drinking-water needs and potentially cultivation, depending on availability and viability.
- Required reservoir level
- Nagarjuna Sagar must rise to 535 feet; its current level is 532 feet.
- Nagarjuna Sagar storage
- 171.48 tmc-ft, or 54.95% of its 312.05 tmc-ft gross capacity at full reservoir level.
- Nagarjuna Sagar inflow
- Nearly 55,278 cusecs.
- Srisailam storage
- 167.48 tmc-ft, or 77.61% of its 215.81 tmc-ft gross capacity at full reservoir level.
- Srisailam outflow
- 48,765 cusecs is being released downstream toward Nagarjuna Sagar.
- Potential water use
- The Right Main Canal may initially be used for drinking-water needs in Guntur, Palnadu, Bapatla and Prakasam districts.
- Power-generation water requirement
- About 5,000 cusecs are required to generate one unit of hydroelectric power.