If water is released from Srisailam, the inflows would further increase, for which development, farmers in both the states are waiting eagerly.
Published Jul 07, 2025 | 11:21 AM ⚊ Updated Jul 08, 2025 | 9:54 AM
Krishna river near Srisailam dam. (Wikimedia)
Synopsis: Heavy rains in the Krishna river basin have led to significant inflows into key reservoirs like Srisailam (80% full), Nagarjuna Sagar (52.5%), and Tungabhadra (near full). Gates may be opened soon as water levels rise. Upstream dams like Almatti and Narayanpur in Karnataka are also full, releasing nearly one lakh cusecs, boosting hopes for farmers downstream.
With the Krishna river’s catchment receiving heavy rains, the inflows have increased substantially into reservoirs on it as well as Tungabhadra dam.
The Srisailam reservoir, one of the largest hydroelectric projects in the country, is almost full with huge inflows. At 7:30 a.m. on Monday, 7 July, the inflows were 1.98 lakh cusecs and outflows were 70,039 cusecs.
The reservoir is full up to 80 percent. It has 190.33 tmcft water as against its gross capacity of 215.81 tmcft at Full Reservoir Level (FRL). The gates of the reservoir might be lifted any time if inflows continue to increase with each passing hour.
Another major reservoir, Nagarjuna Sagar, which has huge ayacut under it both in Andhra and Telangana is 52.5 percent full. As against its gross capacity of 312 tmcft, it has 164.1 tmcft at FRL. The inflows into the reservoir were 55,892 cusecs.
If water is released from Srisailam, the inflows would further increase, for which development, farmers in both the states are waiting eagerly.
At Sunkesula Project on Tungabhadra, upstream of Sangameswaram where the tributary joins the Krishna, the inflows are significant. They are about 57,445 cusecs at about 8 a.m. on Monday. Outflows are almost equal, about 56,000 cusecs. This water will join the Krishna at Sangameswaram from there it will reach Srisailam.
The Tungabhadra dam, at about 7 a.m. on Monday, had 76 tmcft water as against the gross capacity of 80 tmcft (reduced capacity on account of gate No 19 becoming dysfunctional). Inflows were 52,208 cusecs while outflows were 61,512 cusecs.
From the spillway, the discharge was 54,340 cusecs after 19 gates were opened by a height of 2.5 ft. Each gate has a discharge capacity of 2,660 cusecs.
Almatti in Karnataka is full. As against its full reservoir level of 519.6 mt, the level at present is 517.26 mt. Inflows were 1,02,140 cusecs while the outflow is 1,00,670 cusecs.
Downstream of Almatti is Narayanpur which is also full. As against its FRL of 492.25 mt, the level was 490.7 mt. Inflows and outflows are the same, about one lakh cusecs.
(Edited by Sumavarsha)
