PNS|Eluru
Heavy inflow to the river Godavari continued on Wednesday following heavy rains in the catchment areas. 8,50,589 cusecs of water is being released from the Polavaram project to the downstream.
The Sileru, Indravati and Shabari rivers which are the tributaries of Godavari are also in spate with heavy inflows. As the water of all the tributaries merges in the river Godavari at the upstream of Polavaram project, the project is receiving heavy inflow forcing the authorities to discharge over 8.50 lakh cusecs of water.
Polavaram project EE P Venkataramana told the media that water level stood at 31.940 metres at the downstream of Polavaram project stillway, 23,750 metres at the upstream of Polavaram project. The water level stood at 22.467 metres at Polavaram project.
Meanwhile, the Kondavagu canal breached at Pattiseema village and the farmers plugged the breach on war footing to save their crops. All the streams, rivulets and nalas are overflowing with flood water in the district.
Polavaram MLA Tellam Balaraju, Tahasildar B Sumati and SI Pawan Kumar saw the reach of the canal. The Bhadrakali temple near Pattiseema was surrounded by flood water. The road connectivity was disrupted to several villages as flood water overflowed on the roads. The low-lying areas were inundated at various places in the district as the water clogged in the canals. In West Godavari, Collector P Prashanthi reviewed the flood situation with the officials on Wednesday. She inquired with the officials about the latest situation and damage to the crops. She directed the officials to take steps to shift pregnant women from the inundation villages to hospital for delivery without any problem. She also asked the fishermen not to venture into the sea for fishing. She directed the police to provide patrolling on the embankments of the river Godavari and not allow anybody to enter the river. She told them that the embankments of the river Godavari, rivulets and canals should be inspected from time to time.
She directed the officials to stock sandbags to plug breaches if developed. She asked the officials to submit her report on the flood situation and arrangements made to face any eventuality. She directed the health officials to keep ready anti-venom injections to treat snake bite victims.
Meanwhile, Collector V Prasanna Venkatesh declared holidays to schools and Intermediate colleges on Thursday and Friday in Kukkunuru, Velerupadu, Polavaram and Buttayagudem mandals.
In a statement here on Wednesday, the Collector said that in the backdrop of incessant rains and floods to the river Godavari, the educational institutions were declared holidays on Thursday and Friday.
The Collector directed the officials not to send the students, who are staying in hostels to their native villages keeping in view floods. If needed, the students should be sent in groups, he told the officials.
