Fresh inflows into reservoirs and barrages have provided temporary relief to the water-starved areas in the state.
On Saturday, Nandyal MP S.P.Y. Reddy met the Chief Minister who appraised him of the latest inflow situation on River Krishna and Tungabha-dra projects and convinced him to withdraw his resignation. Accordingly Mr Reddy informed the Lok Sabha Speaker's Office of his decision to withdraw his resignation letter submitted on Friday.
The CM is said to have instructed officials to red-uce the release of waters from Srisailam Dam to Nagarjunasagar from one tmc ft to half tmc from Saturday morning keeping in mind his three-day Indiramma Baata in Kurnool district from September 3 and also mollifying the MP.
However, a senior Genco official clarified, “Power generation from Srisail-am was reduced due to lower demand and not due to anyone’s instructions.”
Mr Reddy told newsmen “The CM convinced me about the need to release some water to Nagarju-nasagar to meet drinking water requirements of the city and districts. I was convinced and so wit-hdrew my resignation.”
However, the good news was that Almatti dam in Karnataka has received more inflows to a tune of 37,185 cusecs and has released 20,514 cusecs to downstream.
Narayanapur dam, situated below Almatti dam, having received 20,150 cu-secs inflow had released 14,630 cusecs to AP projects. Similarly, the Tunga-bhadra dam at Hospet in Karnataka having receiv-ed 24,688 cusecs inflow started the release of 8214 cusecs to AP.
With a Full Reservoir Level of 1633 ft, TB dam reached 1632.4ft level on Saturday and more outflows are expected by night, raising hopes in AP.
Power generation was restored in Jurala Project, through which water will reach Srisailam dam. Irrigation officials said 25,000 cusecs of water is expected to reach Srisail-am dam from both Krishna and Tungabhadra rivers and the level is likely to increase beyond 845 feet to ensure supplies to NS dam as well as Rayala-seema canals.
Due to this, officials hope to maintain 510 feet level at NS dam for some more days without affecting drinking wa-ter requirements of Hyde-rabad and other districts.
Meanwhile, Prakasam Barrage, which has been struggling to supply water to the Krishna Delta ayacut, on Saturday got 14,075 cusecs of inflows contributed by Munneru and Palair tributaries and the same was released to the Eastern, Western and Guntur canals much to the delight of farmers.