3.10 lakh cusecs released from Prakasam BarrageIf floodwater exceeds 3.97 lakh cusecs, Central Water Commission will give the first flood warning

The Prakasam Barrage in Vijayawada has been receiving a large amount of floodwater from upstream of Krishna River. Irrigation Circle officials released around three lakh cusecs of surplus water into the sea by lifting all 70 gates on Thursday. In the past two days, all gates of the Prakasam Barrage have been lifted. Out of a total of 70 gates, 10 gates were lifted by eight feet and the remaining 60 gates by seven feet.
According to sources, the released inflow at the barrage was 3.10 lakh cusecs. Of this, 2.44 lakh cusecs came from Pulichintala and 54,000 cusecs, from Keesara. The Irrigation Circle officials released 2.96 lakh cusecs into the sea by lifting all 70 gates and another 13,768 cusecs to the canals, to maintain the barrage level at 12 feet.
The upper reservoirs on Krishna River, including the Srisailam Project, Nagarjuna Sagar Project, and Pulichintala, are receiving huge floodwater. Therefore, the authorities discharged the surplus water downstream, resulting in the Prakasam Barrage receiving more than 3.10 lakh cusecs of floodwater. NTR and Krishna District Collectors Dr G Srijana and DK Balaji, along with VMC Commissioner Dhyanachandra, alerted the public residing in low-lying areas downstream of the barrage.
Sources stated that if the flood discharge from the upper stream increases, the discharges of the Prakasam Barrage will also increase. If the floodwater crosses 3.97 lakh cusecs at the barrage, the Central Water Commission (WRD) will issue the first flood warning at the barrage, officials said. However, the present inflows to the barrage averaged around 3.10 lakh cusecs.
Meanwhile, both the NTR and Krishna district administrations alerted the people living along the shores of Krishna and suggested they shift to safe places. Flood Control Rooms were opened at the district headquarters to monitor the situation of River Krishna.
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