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Key Points

Fourteen crest gates of Nagarjuna Sagar dam were opened for the first time in 18 years due to heavy inflows from upstream. The water release will support irrigation and hydroelectric power generation. Authorities have warned downstream residents as the dam nears full capacity. The project, described as a "modern temple," irrigates 22 lakh acres across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

Key Points: Nagarjuna Sagar Dam Gates Opened First Time in 18 Years

  • First July release in 18 years due to heavy inflows
  • Ministers oversee 14 gates opened to 5 feet height
  • Water used for irrigation and hydroelectric power
  • Authorities alert downstream low-lying areas
2 min read

Fourteen crest gates of Nagarjuna Sagar dam lifted

Fourteen crest gates of Nagarjuna Sagar dam lifted to release water downstream after heavy inflows from Srisailam dam.

"Nagarjuna Sagar is a modern temple. - Uttam Kumar Reddy"

Hyderabad, July 29

Fourteen crest gates of Nagarjuna Sagar dam across the Krishna River were lifted on Tuesday to release water downstream.

This is the first time in 18 years that the gates of the project have been opened in July.

The water from the dam is usually released in August. However, huge inflows from the Srisailam dam following heavy rain in upstream Maharashtra and Karnataka have almost filled the reservoir early this year.

Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy and Minister for Scheduled Caste Development and Tribal Welfare Adluri Laxman Kumar oversaw the opening of 14 out of 26 crest gates to release water.

The gates were lifted to a height of five feet to release 78,060 cusecs of water downstream. The inflow into Nagarjuna Sagar was 2,28,900 cusecs on Tuesday morning, while the outflow was 1,18,790 cusecs.

The water was also being left in the left and right canals for irrigation and also for a hydroelectric power plant.

Authorities have alerted people in the low-lying areas downstream before releasing the water.

The water level in Nagarjuna Sagar dam rose to 587.20 feet on Tuesday morning against its full level of 590 feet. The water storage in the dam stands at 305.62 TMC (thousand million cubic feet) against its capacity of 312.04 TMC.

Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy said he was happy to lift the crest gates of the dam. He described Nagarjuna Sagar as a modern temple. He said that the first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, had laid the foundation stone for the project, while later Indira Gandhi inaugurated it.

He noted that the mega project irrigated 22 lakh acres in both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

Meanwhile, following huge inflows from upstream projects, authorities opened crest gates of the Srisailam dam in Andhra Pradesh.

The crest gates were opened to a height of 10 feet to release the water downstream to Nagarjuna Sagar.

According to officials, the water level in Srisailam on Tuesday morning was 883 feet against the full reservoir level of 885 feet. The water storage was 204.78 TMC against its full capacity of 215.80 TMC.

As many as 2,29,743 cusecs of water are flowing into Srisailam from Jurala and Sunkesula projects, while outflow is 2,48,900 cusecs.

Officials said 1,62,942 cusecs were being released. The authorities were releasing 20,000 cusecs through Pothireddypadu head regulator, 35,315 cusecs through the left bank hydel power station, and 30,643 cusecs through the right bank hydel station.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
As someone who visited Nagarjuna Sagar last year, it's amazing to see this engineering marvel in action. The water management between multiple states shows good coordination. More power projects should utilize such natural resources!
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Priyanka N
While it's good to see the dam full, I hope the government is also focusing on long-term water conservation. We can't just rely on monsoon rains every year. More rainwater harvesting projects are needed across both Telangana and AP.
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Karthik V
The timing is perfect for our paddy fields! But officials should ensure proper distribution to tail-end areas too. Last year some villages didn't get enough water due to mismanagement. Hope lessons have been learned 🤞
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Aman W
Good to see inter-state cooperation on water sharing. But I'm concerned - with climate change, we're seeing more extreme weather. Need better flood warning systems for downstream villages. Safety first!
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Nisha Z
The minister calling it a 'modern temple' is so true! Our dams are national treasures that feed millions. Wish there was more transparency in water distribution data though - should be available to public in real-time.

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