Monsoon proving bountiful for major projects

HYDERABAD

The current monsoon season is proving to be bountiful for major projects and reservoirs in the State, thanks mainly to copious rains in the upstream catchment areas of Krishna and Godavari rivers in Karnataka and Maharashtra, particularly those in the Krishna basin, with most of them getting surplus in July itself.

Even most of the medium irrigation projects have become surplus already, and nearly 60% of the minor irrigation tanks have become surplus. However, about 40% of the 34,740 tanks are yet to be filled this season due to uneven spread of rains.

The 28 medium irrigation projects in the Godavari Basin have a total storage of 35.39 tmc ft against their full capacity of 45.35 tmc ft their cumulative flood discharge is about 1.29 lakh cusecs against the inflows of 1.23 lakh cusecs. Similarly, the 8 medium projects in the Krishna Basin are holding 14.65 tmc ft water against their full capacity of 15.34 tmc ft with the cumulative discharge of 28,500 cusecs against inflows of 27,500 cusecs.

According to the Met department, the average rainfall in the State so far is normal – 11% above normal (a deviation of 19% lesser or higher rainfall against normal is considered normal). However, district-wise, it is deficient 44% in Nirmal, 20% in Peddapalli, 12% less in Bhupalapally and Nalgonda, 11% less in Jagitial and Nizamabad, 10% in Sircilla and 9% in Manchercial.

The State Planning and Development Society statistics give a slightly different picture as it has put the average rainfall till August 24 is 16% above normal. But, the disrtict-wise shortfall is put at 16% less than normal in Peddapally, 14% in Nizamabad, 13% in Jagitial, 12% in Nirmal and 8% each in Bhupalpally and Mancherial.

“Inflows into major projects, particularly those in the Krishna Basin, are the highest this year compared to the flood water received by them last few years. The copious inflows have also allowed hydro-electric generation at optimum level with all functioning units put into use,” a flood monitoring official in Jurala said, adding that heavy flood to Jurala - Srisailam - Nagarjunasagar, is expected to continue for a few more days despite let up in rains.