Godavari receives copious inflow, 6 lakh cusecs released into sea
The Godavari is receiving copious amounts of floodwaters from the Indravathi and nearly 6 lakh cusecs of water was released into the sea at the Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage till Thursday Night.
The water levels in the Godavari are increasing, causing concern over the safety of villages in Polavaram (West Godavari) and Devipatnam mandal (East Godavari).
Road connectivity to 52 villages — 19 in Polavaram mandal and 33 in Devipatnam mandal — has been cut off. The Kothur causeway in
Polavaram mandal was inundated and the officials arranged a boat for the people.
Floodwaters reached the spill channel in Polavaram project. Project chief engineer B. Sudhakar Babu said 6 lakh cusecs of water was flowing at the Polavaram project and there will be no problem till it reaches the 7 lakh mark.
Even if the spillway works are affected, work on the cofferdam bridge will continue as iron gliders have been erected on it.
Meanwhile, due to huge water flows to the Krishna delta from the Budameru and other rivulets, the Krishna district irrigation officials suggested that the Pattiseema lift irrigation officials reduce the supply of water to the Krishna river.
Pattiseema officials have stopped nine pumps and supply has been reduced to 3,400 cusecs from 7,000 cusecs. Sudhakar Babu said it would take five to seven days to restart the pumps.
At Devipatnam mandal of East Godavari, officials arranged two RTC buses and two boats to evacuate people. A majority voted to stay back,
“We are appealing to the government and the district officials to expedite the R&R and Rehabilitation Colony works as the region had experienced floods last year. Previously, when the water level touched
55 feet at Bhadrachalam, Devipatnam mandal villages were inundated,” said P. Krishna Rao, Polavaram Project Victims Parirakshana Porata Samithi Devipatnam mandal honorary president.
The water level at Bhadrachalam stands at
35 feet now.
He said that the people are not willing to go to the shelters provided by the government at Rampachodavaram as it is not suitable for them.
There are hillocks near the villages and the shelters should be opened there, where locals along with their livestock can wait out the rain.