HYDERABAD

The Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) has decided to lower the minimum draw down level (MDDL) of Nagarjunasagar project to 505 feet from 510 feet to meet the drinking water needs of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana till July 31. The Board has approved the release of 4 tmcft water to A.P. and 10.26 tmcft to Telangana.

In its water release order issued on Wednesday, KRMB authorities stated that the three-member committee meeting for allocation of water available in Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar projects to meet the drinking needs of the two States was held on May 5. While Telangana had given an indent for 10.26 tmcft (as per its letter dated May 5), A.P. had sought 10 tmcft water in its letter to the board on May 20.

In a letter to the river board on May 6, the Engineer-in-Chief of Telangana said the net availability of water in the common reservoirs as on May 5 was 10.81 tmcft, considering the MDDL of Srisailam at 810 ft. and that of Nagarjunasagar at 510 ft. The river board stated in the order that since it was not possible to meet the drinking water requirements of the two States by maintaining the MDDLs, it was decided to consider lowering the MDDL of Nagarjunasagar at 505 ft. by keeping that of Srisailam as it is.

Accordingly, the availability of water in the two common reservoirs was estimated at 21.215 tmcft, including 8.422 tmcft in Srisailam (till 800 ft.) and at 12.793 tmcft. in Nagarjunasagar (till 505 ft) as of May 21 (6 a.m.). Considering the evaporation and other losses (20%) of 4.243 tmcft., the net water availability was 16.972 tmcft.

As of 6 a.m. on May 22, water level in Srisailam was 816.7 tmcft. with its gross storage at 38.800 tmcft. against its full reservoir level of 885 ft. (215.807 tmcft.) and that in Nagarjunasagar was 512.6 ft. with storage at 136.127 tmcft. against its FRL of 590 ft. (312.045 tmcft.).

Based on the water availability, the river board considered release of 4 tmcft. water to A.P. from May 20 and 10.26 tmcft. to Telangana from May 5. Stating that the shortage of water availability was acute in the common reservoirs, the river board wanted the two States two draw the water allocated to them preferably with power generation.

The board stated that the releases from Nagarjunasagar be done from May 22 at a rate of 5,500 cusec from the Right Main Canal till the 4 tmcft. was released to meet the needs of A.P. Further, it wanted operation of Srisailam reservoir in such a way that water needs of Telangana were met from it till July 31.