Prakasam Barrage gates lifted after heavy inflows

GUNTUR: With the Prakasam Barrage receiving heavy inflows from the Pulichintala project, officials have opened all 70 gates. Specifically, 50 gates were lifted 5 feet and 20 gates were lifted 2 feet, releasing 1.37 lakh cusecs of water downstream against the 1.23 lakh cusecs of inflows. This release might increase to around 3 lakh cusecs or more, depending on inflows from Pulichintala.

Authorities have advised people living in low-lying and flood-prone areas to be on alert. People have been asked to move their fishing boats and cattle to safety and avoid crossing any water bodies. An alert has been announced in Thulluru, Mangalagiri, Tadepalli, and Tadikonda mandals in Guntur district.

Nagarjuna Sagar is receiving over 2 lakh cusecs of inflows from the Srisailam reservoir, leading to the release of over 3.7 lakh cusecs of surplus water downstream to Pulichintala reservoir. On Wednesday morning, around 2.28 lakh cusecs of surplus water was released from the Pulichintala project, which is nearing its full reservoir level of 45 thousand million cubic feet (TMC ft) and may increase to 3 lakh cusecs or more.

Pedakurapadu MLA Bhashyam Praveen performed the traditional Jala Harathi. The Superintendent Engineer of the project, S Ramakrishna, assured that all gates of Pulichintala are intact and there is no risk of damage to the crest gates despite the high water pressure. He referenced the August 2021 incident when gate no. 16 collapsed and was washed away during the release of surplus water. Officials initially set up a stop lock gate and later fixed a new crest gate.