Godavari water crosses first warning level at Bhadrachalam

Kothagudem: River Godavari water level at Bhadrachalam in the district crossed the first warning level on Thursday.

At 10 am, the river gauge reading was 43.90 feet with water discharge of 9,20,657 cusecs, Central Water Commission officials said. At 4 pm, the water level came down to 43.60 feet and remained at that mark till 5 pm.

The Godavari water level has been increasing due to rains in its upper catchment area and water being released from upstream projects like Sriram Sagar and Medigadda. In view of increasing water level, a control room with telephone number 08743-232444 has been set up at Bhadrachalam Sub-Collector’s office to assist flood-affected people.

There was a possibility of the level increasing further and Tahsildars were directed to shift residents of villages on the banks of the river to relief centres, said District Collector D Anudeep, who held a video conference with revenue and health officials.

He instructed the officials to install barricades at overflowing streams and to prepare mandal-wise list of flood-affected villages. Steps to prevent illegal transportation of sand from streams have to be taken by digging trenches near streams to prevent bullock carts and vehicles from reaching the streams.

Sand was being transported illegally in the nights and cases should be booked against those involved in such sand transportation. As excess water was being discharged from Taliperu and Kinnerasari reservoirs, residents living on the banks of streams have to be alerted, he added.

The authorities lifted one gate at Taliperu reservoir to discharge 1,285 cusecs of excess water.

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