Nagarjuna Sagar Roars to Life: First July Floodwater Release in 18 Years Marks New Era of Irrigation, Says Minister Uttam

Nalgonda, July 29 (Maxim News): In a landmark event that brought pride and joy to farmers across Telangana, Irrigation, Food & Civil Supplies Minister Capt. N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Tuesday inaugurated the first release of floodwaters from the Nagarjuna Sagar Dam in the month of July—a rare event that last occurred 18 years ago.

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Situated in Nalgonda district, the iconic Nagarjuna Sagar Project has turned into a brimful reservoir after receiving heavy upstream inflows. Marking this historic moment, Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy, along with Minister Adluri Laxman Kumar, local MLAs, and senior irrigation officials, opened 14 crest gates of the dam, releasing over 1.18 lakh cusecs of water into the Krishna River.

“Nagarjuna Sagar is not just a structure—it is a modern temple of irrigation. It embodies the dreams of our nation’s founders and the hopes of lakhs of farmers,” Uttam Kumar Reddy declared during the ceremony. Special prayers were offered to ‘Krishnamma’ before the gates were lifted, symbolizing reverence for the life-giving river.

Floodwater Release in Figures:

• Water Level: 587.20 feet (FRL: 590 feet)
• Storage: 305.62 TMC (Total Capacity: 312.04 TMC)
• Inflow: 2,28,900 cusecs
• Outflow: 1,18,790 cusecs through 14 gates

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Authorities issued alerts to downstream and low-lying areas, urging residents to remain cautious and avoid flood-prone zones. Continuous monitoring is underway.

A Legacy of Vision and Progress

Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy recalled the project’s visionary legacy, noting that the foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1955, with the dam inaugurated by Indira Gandhi in 1967. “This dam is a monument to India’s engineering brilliance and our commitment to agricultural self-sufficiency,” he said.

The Nagarjuna Sagar Dam currently irrigates over 22.12 lakh acres, including 6.30 lakh acres in Telangana and 4.08 lakh acres in Andhra Pradesh.

• Right Canal (Pandit Nehru Canal): 11.74 lakh acres
• Left Canal (Lal Bahadur Shastri Canal): 10.38 lakh acres, including 3.76 lakh acres in Telangana’s Nalgonda and Suryapet districts.

Power and Agriculture Boost

The project also powers 700 MW of electricity through seven main units and an additional 60 MW via two units on the left canal. Thanks to consistent 30,000 cusecs flow over the last four days, both irrigation and power generation have ramped up.

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Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy emphasized that water for kharif crops was released early—3,000 cusecs through the left canal—prior to the formal schedule, aiding timely sowing for farmers.

As a result of such proactive measures, Telangana recorded a record-breaking 281 lakh metric tonnes of paddy in the last kharif and rabi seasons—the highest in India.

Investing in the Future of Irrigation

To further improve canal efficiency and reduce seepage, the Telangana government has sanctioned ₹63 crore for lining the main canal. The work is expected to be completed in the next year.

Minister Uttam reiterated his commitment to farmers, especially those in tail-end regions. “As someone elected repeatedly from this ayacut region, I understand the struggles of our farmers. My mission is to ensure every drop reaches every field,” he said.

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He also praised his colleagues and MLAs for their joint efforts in transforming Nalgonda into a drought-free, agriculture-rich region.

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