Stop power generation at Srisailam: KRMB
Both States generating power continuously even though level of NSP was near FRL and Srisailam recieved meagre inflows
Hyderabad: The Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) has requested Telangana and Andhra Pradesh to stop releasing water exclusively for power generation from Srisailam.
In a letter to Telangana Special Chief Secretary, Irrigation and Command Area Development Department and AP Water Resources Department, Special Chief Secretary, the Board member (power) L B Múanthang, said that it has been observed from daily data of Srisailam reservoir received from Telangana and AP from October 2021 that the Genco authorities of both the States were generating power continuously through the left and right power houses even though level of Nagarjuna Sagar Project (NSP) was near FRL and meagre inflows were received into Srisailam reservoir.
This was also resulting in wastage and release of large quantum of water into sea, he said. Múanthang said the water level at Srisailam reservoir depleted from FRL 885 ft with capacity of 215.80 TMC as on October 15, 2021 to 856.10 ft with capacity of 94.910 TMC as on November 18, 2021.
Also about 608.77 MU of power (RPH = 295.91 MU, LPH 312.86 MU) has been generated and about 55.966 TMC has been drained into the sea during October 19, 2021 to November 10, 2021, he said.
It is expected that Srisailam reservoir will likely receive monsoon inflows during August 2022 after 10 months. The State governments have not placed any indent to KRMB till date for release of water from Srisailam and NSP during the water year 2021-22.
“It shows there is no requirement of water for drinking and irrigation purpose from NSP. However, water is released from Srisailam exclusively for power generation and a large quantity of water is wasted into sea,” he said.
According to Múanthang, it has been decided in the 9th and 12th meetings of KRMB that the power generation from Srisailam dam was incidental to drinking and irrigation water demand. Releasing of water from Srisailam dam, exclusively for power generation, without drinking and irrigation water demand in downstream and resulting flow of water into sea was wastage of valuable water.
This may result in shortage of water for drinking and irrigation needs in the later part of the year as only five months of the water year have passed, he added.
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