Singur reservoir breaks 27-year inflow record amid heavy rains

The Singur multipurpose project in Sangareddy district has recorded its highest-ever inflow of over 200 TMCft, surpassing a 27-year-old record. Despite the surge, only 17.741 TMCft was stored due to restrictions imposed by the National Dam Safety Authority.

Sangareddy: For the first time since its commissioning in 1997-98, the Singur multipurpose project at Singur village in Pulkal mandal has recorded an inflow of over 200 TMCft, surpassing the previous record of 176.50 TMCft set in 1998-99. The heavy and sustained rains in the Manjeera catchment during August and September brought unprecedented volumes into the reservoir.

While over 200 TMCft of water flowed into the project this year, irrigation authorities simultaneously released an equal quantity downstream through power plants and irrigation channels. Despite the inflows, only 17.741 TMCft could be stored against its full capacity of 29.91 TMCft.

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This was because the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) directed the Irrigation department to restrict storage to 16 TMCft until repair works are taken up. The project, considered the lifeline of Sangareddy, Medak and Kamareddy districts, has thus operated at reduced capacity this year.

On Saturday, with inflows touching 30,000 cusecs, authorities released over 35,000 cusecs downstream by lifting two crest gates. The inflow into Singur has exceeded 100 TMCft only five times in its history. Apart from the current year’s record of 200 TMCft, the reservoir received 176.50 TMCft in 1998-99, 106.62 TMCft in 2010-11, 106 TMCft in 2016-17 and 101.5 TMCft in 2021-22.

With inflows crossing one lakh cusecs several times in September, officials were forced to lift 11 of the 17 crest gates. The Manjeera overflowed bridges in parts of Medak district, disrupting traffic movement.

DEE, Singur Project, Nagaraju said they were elated to witness the highest-ever inflow in the project’s history.