Surplus flood water released into sea

Vijayawada, Sep 22 (UNI) The Irrigation Department Officials here released 2.24 lakh cusecs of flood water into the Bay of Bengal from Prakasam Barrage today.

Talking to UNI, sources in the Irrigation Department said the discharge of surplus flood water from the barrage into the sea was mainly because of huge inflows received into the Prakasam Barrage from Nagarjunasagar Dam in view of heavy rainfall in the upper catchment areas.

The sources, however, said the release of flood water from Nagarjunasagar to Prakasam Barrage would be reduced in the next 24 hours.

As much as 2.26 lakh cusecs of flood water was again discharged by the Irrigation Department from Nagarjunasagar Reservoir to Prakasam Barrage this morning.

The water would reach the barrage by tomorrow and then drain into the sea.

The sources said about 17,720 cusecs of water was released into irrigation canals and added all the 70 crest gates of the barrage were lifted up to five feet to release the water into the sea.

The water level at the barrage was, however, being maintained at 12 feet, the sources added.

UNI CS GM LS DS1235