Karimnagar irrigation projects hit as water levels dip sharply

Water levels in major irrigation projects across Karimnagar district have dropped alarmingly, raising fears of shortages for both cultivation and drinking water. With borewells drying up and reservoirs holding far below capacity, residents are increasingly reliant on tankers.

Karimnagar: Water levels in irrigation projects have declined drastically. It is likely to have an impact on irrigable and drinking water needs of the people in the coming days if the situation continues any further.

People have already begun depending on water tankers as borewells have dried up in many areas of the erstwhile Karimnagar district due to depletion of the groundwater table. In some areas, water is being stored in plastic drums.

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Besides local rivulets, Sri Ram Sagar Project (SRSP) and Yellampalli projects are the main water sources for the district. However, water levels in these two projects have declined. Only 15.049 tmc of water is available in SRSP as against its storage capacity of 80.50 tmc while 7.41 tmc is available in Yellampalli as against its capacity of 20.175 tmc.

Lower Manair Dam is the main drinking water source for Karimnagar town as well as a few other areas. Lakhs of acres up to Nalgonda are being cultivated under the project. However, it has only 6 tmc as against 24 tmc.

Besides Moyathummedavagu, SRSP is the main water source for LMD. The project, which gets water through Kakatiya canal, has no chance of receiving water since less water is available in SRSP.

LMD will also get water from Mid Maniar Reservoir if the floodgates of MMR are lifted. However, there is no chance of lifting the gates as only 7.40 tmc is available in the project as against its capacity of 27.55 tmc.

MMR gets water from the Flood Flow Canal of SRSP as well as the Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project. Since there is no water in SRSP and Yellampalli, MMR will not get inflows.

Projects will get water if adequate rainfall is recorded. However, the Southwest Monsoon has failed to spread across the state due to El Nino. People will have to face severe hardships if the situation is continues further.