Water levels dip in Nagarjuna Sagar, emergency pumping to begin

done: arun
Hyderabad: Water levels at Nagarjuna Sagar have dropped to alarming lows due to high water demand, depleting groundwater levels, and extreme heat. In response, the state govt has directed the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) to commence emergency pumping from Puttamgandi near Nagarjuna Sagar starting the first week of May.
Although there is no immediate need for emergency pumping from Yellampally (Godavari water), the govt has instructed the water board to prepare for potential pumping, anticipating a possible water crisis from mid-May.
“HMWS&SB has completed the installation of pumps and is likely to start emergency pumping within a week to meet the city’s drinking water needs,” HMWS&SB managing director K Ashok Reddy told TOI on Saturday.
Emergency pumping becomes necessary when Nagarjuna Sagar’s water level falls to 510 feet, the minimum drawdown level (MDDL), compared to its full reservoir level (FRL) of 590 feet. Hyderabad requires about 581 million gallons per day (MGD) of water, out of which 270 MGD is drawn from the Krishna river (Nagarjuna Sagar) under Krishna phases I, II, and III.
Official sources indicated that emergency pumping may continue for nearly two months until heavy inflows reach Nagarjuna Sagar, expected by the first week of Aug. “Last year, the water board initiated emergency pumping on April 29 and continued until the last week of July, when heavy rains in Karnataka caused sudden floods in the Krishna, allowing pumping to cease,” a senior official recalled.
Compared to last year, current water levels at Nagarjuna Sagar and Srisailam are slightly better. On April 25 last year, Nagarjuna Sagar water level stood at 505 feet and Srisailam’s at 808 feet. This year, the levels are at 514 feet and 815 feet respectively. However, officials noted a sharp decline in water levels over the past 15 days. The HMWS&SB has requested the irrigation department to maintain Nagarjuna Sagar’s level at a minimum of 515 feet by halting irrigation water releases.
In addition, the water board draws 163 MGD from the Yellampally project (Godavari) daily to supply parts of Hyderabad. The current water level in Yellampally reservoir is 468 feet (it was 463 feet at this time last year), compared to 485 feet full level. Emergency pumps have already been installed at Yellampally and are ready to be activated if needed.
“Generally, floods to the Krishna river occur in Aug from Karnataka, while the Godavari receives floods by July,” a senior HMWS&SB engineering official said.