Flood inflows surge at Medigadda Barrage after heavy rains in Maharashtra

Heavy rainfall in Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh pushed flood inflows at the Medigadda Barrage to around one lakh cusecs on Sunday. Authorities lifted all 85 gates, while political debate over the utilisation of Kaleshwaram project floodwaters intensified amid below-normal rainfall in Telangana

Hyderabad: Heavy rains in upstream Maharashtra triggered a sharp rise in flood inflows into the Medigadda Barrage of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme on Sunday, even as most reservoirs across Telangana continued to witness negligible inflows amid a weak monsoon. The inflows at the barrage rose to around one lakh cusecs during the day and were expected to increase further.

Officials of the Major Irrigation Department said the water level reached around 96 metres and all 85 gates of the barrage were lifted to release the incoming floodwaters downstream. Authorities also issued alerts to residents of low-lying villages along the Godavari River, advising them to remain vigilant. They warned fishermen and residents of villages on the riverbanks against venturing into the swollen river.

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The flood surge, generated largely by heavy rainfall in Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh through the Pranahita River, comes at a time when Telangana is grappling with below-normal rainfall attributed to El Nino conditions. While most reservoirs in the State are receiving little or no inflows, the Godavari River at Medigadda witnessed around one lakh cusecs of floodwater, marking the first major flood spell of the season.

The development has once again brought the spotlight back on the Kaleshwaram project and the continuing political debate over its utilisation. The opposition BRS argued that the substantial inflows at Medigadda, despite deficient rainfall across much of Telangana, reinforced the strategic importance of locating the lift irrigation project at Kaleshwaram to harness the Godavari waters during upstream flood events.

During his visit to the Kannepalli pump house on Sunday, the party working president, KT Rama Rao, asserted that every possible cusec should be lifted to replenish reservoirs and support irrigation, particularly with forecasts pointing to a challenging agricultural season.

However, the Congress government maintained that floodwaters were being released downstream to safeguard the barrage structure in accordance with NDSA guidelines. The issue became a fresh flashpoint after BRS leaders on Sunday accused the government of failing to utilise the available river flows through the Kannepalli pumping system.

Meanwhile, heavy rains also disrupted normal life in parts of Komaram Bheem Asifabad district. Both the Pranahita and Penganga rivers flowed in spate, with floodwaters reaching the Pushkar ghats at Koutala and the Penganga crossing the danger mark near Tatipalli. A major road near Cheelapalli in Sirpur mandal was washed away, disrupting traffic.