Hyderabad experienced heavy rains recently, causing increased water flow in many areas. The state’s Irrigation Department acted quickly to protect key structures like the Pocharam project, Lower Manair dam, and Upper Manair dams. These efforts aimed to prevent harm to people and livestock.
Water levels rose significantly in the Krishna and Godavari basin projects. Superintendent Engineer P Ramesh noted that the Lower Manair dam has been handling large inflows from the Mid Manair Reservoir for two days. To manage this, authorities plan to open spillway gates on Friday, allowing water to flow downstream. This step aims to protect nearby villages from flooding. An advisory warns residents to avoid crossing the Maneru river due to heavy water flow.
State Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy praised the resilience of the 103-year-old Pocharam project. It successfully managed a massive inflow of 1,82,000 cusecs, far exceeding its capacity of 70,000 cusecs. Built by the Nizam government, the Pocharam project started in 1917 in Pocharam village, part of today’s Kamareddy district. It has served the Nizamabad and Medak districts for over a century, providing irrigation and drinking water. Regular discharge of excess water ensures the structure’s safety.
In the Godavari basin, projects like Kaddam Narayana Reddy, Sripada Yellampally, and others are filled due to continuous rain. Similar conditions are seen in the Krishna basin, where the Jurala project has reached full capacity. Both Pulichintala and Nagarjuna Sagar reservoirs are also receiving substantial inflows from the persistent rains.
