Nagarjuna Sagar Touches Full Reservoir Level In July After 18 years, Prompting Large-Scale Water Release Downstream

For the first time in 18 years, Nagarjuna Sagar dam has nearly reached its full reservoir level (FRL) in July, recording 586 feet of water against an FRL of 590 feet on Tuesday (29 July).

Typically, this major dam shared by the Telugu states sees such inflows only in August or September, prompting early water releases downstream, reported Times of India .

As the managment of the Nagarjuna Sagar is under Telangana government, ministers Uttam Kumar Reddy and Adluri Lakshman pressed button to open 20 crest gates to release water.

The Nagarjuna Sagar canals irrigate around 26 lakh acres in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, with 10 lakh acres in Palnadu and Prakasam fed by the right canal, and another three lakh acres in NTR and Krishna districts supplied by the left canal.

Water reaches Nagarjuna Sagar only after Srisailam dam, another crucial inter-state project, fills up.

With shorter flood periods in the Krishna basin, both dams seldom attain capacity, impacting irrigation over several lakh acres across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

Persistent shortages have led the Andhra Pradesh government to declare ‘crop holidays’ across Nagarjuna Sagar canals for years.

Heavy diversion of water for power generation amid inter-state disputes has also contributed to both reservoirs drying up.

Though Srisailam reached FRL about two weeks ago, water flowed into Nagarjuna Sagar only after a second flood surge from upstream states.

AP water resources minister Nimmala Ramanaidu called it a significant day for both states, noting that the inflow enabled paddy irrigation in the Sagar ayacut.

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