Coal production hit in SCCL opencast mines amid heavy rains in Khammam

Widespread rains affected coal production in SCCL’s opencast mines at Sathupalli and Manuguru, damaged standing crops and disrupted vehicular movement in erstwhile Khammam. Several water bodies received heavy inflows, prompting irrigation officials to lift gates at the Taliperu Project.

Khammam: Water bodies received copious inflows, coal production was affected in SCCL’s opencast mines, standing crops were damaged at several places and vehicular movement was affected in erstwhile Khammam following widespread rains for the past couple of days.

All the mandals in Khammam and Kothagudem districts received moderate to light rainfall on Thursday. A rainfall of 62.3 mm was recorded in Kalloor, 46.3 mm in Enkoor and 26 mm in Sathupalli of Khammam; rainfall of 39 mm and 27.8 mm was recorded in Dummugudem and Manuguru in Kothagudem from 8.30 am to 7 pm on Thursday.

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Rainwater accumulation in Singareni’s opencast coal mines at Sathupalli and Manuguru hit coal production. Around 15,000 tonnes of coal production and the removal of 1.65 lakh cubic metres of overburden were affected at Manuguru, while coal production of 45,000 tonnes and removal of 2.55 lakh cubic metres of overburden were halted at Sathupalli.

Vehicular traffic between Nagulavancha and Patharlapadu came to a halt due to the overflowing Bandirevu stream in Chintakani mandal in Khammam. Officials blocked the route using a tractor to stop movement.

Farmers at Morampalli Banjara village of Burgampad mandal in Kothagudem complained of cotton crop lodging due to rain and gusty winds on Wednesday night. Standing crops were damaged at other places in the erstwhile district.

Following a massive influx of floodwater from upstream regions into the Taliperu Project in Cherla mandal, irrigation officials lifted eight gates to release 11,000 cusecs of water into the downstream. The current water level at the project stands at 73.16 metres, while its FRL was 74 metres.

The Kinnerasani project in Kothagudem was at its full capacity due to rains in the upper catchment, while the water level at Lanka Sagar project in Penuballi mandal in Khammam reached 11.2 feet. Its FRL was 16 feet, officials said.