VIJAYAWADA: The water resources department has requested power utilities in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to cease power generation in the Srisailam project to conserve water in the reservoir.
With inflows to Srisailam diminishing, power generation will deplete reserves and severely impact farmers, according to the water resources department.
After considering weather conditions and farmers’ requirements, chief engineer of the water resources department (Kurnool), Kabeer Basha, sent an urgent request to AP Genco and Telangana Genco authorities to immediately halt power generation.
Both power utilities were drawing nearly 70,000 cusecs of water from the project, which is being released to the downstream Nagarjuna Sagar project.
With the Nagarjuna Sagar Project also reaching Full Reservoir Level (FRL), the authorities were compelled to release water downstream.
The entire quantum of water released from Sagar is almost going to waste into the ocean as the Pulichintala project downstream of the Sagar project was also overflowing with water.
The power generation is depleting Srisailam by nearly 6.25 tmc per day. The water resources authorities say that such usage could empty the entire project, jeopardizing the interests of farmers in Rayalaseema.
The AP water resources department used to clash with Telangana in the past, demanding an immediate cessation of power generation.
The AP government had requested the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) to stop the water releases for power generation, keeping in view the of reserves.
Telangana used to contend that the Srisailam project was primarily a power project, and they could not forgo the opportunity to generate power at a cheaper cost, considering the state’s interests.
While thermal power generation is expected to cost around ₹8-10 per unit, hydel power is expected to cost just around Rs 2-3 per unit.