Latest news with #WaterResourcesDepartment
The Hindu
6 hours ago
- Climate
- The Hindu
WRD to strengthen canals linking reservoirs in Chennai for seamless flow of Krishna water
In an effort to ensure seamless flow of Krishna water received from Andhra Pradesh to various Chennai reservoirs, the Water Resources Department will soon begin works to improve flood-affected waterways. This forms part of a ₹1,321-crore project, under which 254 works will be implemented across Tamil Nadu. The State government had recently approved various projects, including construction of new irrigation structures, waterbodies restoration, flood protection and mitigation measures, and dam management, in many districts, including Cuddalore, Dharmapuri, Kanniyakumari, Ramanathapuram, and Ranipet. The projects will be implemented under the Comprehensive Water Resources Development Programme. In Tiruvallur district, three projects, which are crucial to the transfer and storage of drinking water in major reservoirs, will be started sometime in the next two months. Officials said damaged portions of the Kandaleru-Poondi (K-P) Canal would be strengthened with a slope protection lining and retaining wall for nearly 2 km at a cost of ₹10.20 crore. Inflow of 500 cusecs For the past few days now, the K-P Canal has been receiving an improved inflow of 500 cubic feet per second (cusecs) of Krishna water. However, there was a minimum of 5%-10% seepage loss before reaching the Poondi reservoir. After the canal's vulnerable portions are strengthened near places such as Uthukottai and Tamaraikuppam, further risks of bund erosion and seepage loss can be prevented. The risk of floods at places near the canal, such as Sevvapet, will also decrease, officials said. Chennai has received nearly 785 million cubic feet (mcft) of Krishna water since July 1. If an inflow of 500 cusecs is maintained daily, it will boost the city reservoirs' storage by nearly 1,300 mcft. This is equal to a month's water supply for the city. 'We will be able to augment the reservoirs' storage this year as Andhra Pradesh authorities have assured us of supply till the end of the year,' an official said. The WRD will also repair three old shutters at the confluence point of the Allikuzhi Odai and K-P Canal and ensure canal safety. The channel, which originates in the Allikuzhi Reserve Forest area, crosses the K-P Canal and drains into the Kosasthalaiyar. The damaged portion of a feeder canal, which conveys Krishna water from the Poondi reservoir to the one in Red Hills, will be repaired and improved with slope protection lining and retaining wall for a length of 3.3 km near Sirukadal. Culverts and inlets in the canal will also be repaired. 'We have already carried out similar works in the canal's tail-end. It has the capacity to carry 500 cusecs. Most of the ₹10.75-crore work will be completed by the onset of Northeast monsoon,' an official said.
Hindustan Times
8 hours ago
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
Punjab minister reviews arrangements to deal with potential floods
Chandigarh, Punjab Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal on Tuesday reviewed the arrangements made by his department to deal with any potential floods. Punjab minister reviews arrangements to deal with potential floods He said the government has completed the cleaning of the state's drainage systems and strengthened embankments to tackle any flood-like situation. Many parts of Punjab have received moderate to heavy rain in recent days. Goyal said the state government has completed 1,220 projects worth ₹276 crore to tackle any potential flood situation. These include river revetment work, installation of studs, strengthening operations and desilting of drains. Additionally, 600 check dams have been constructed and 1,104 more are under construction. Besides, 3,905 soak pits are being created, over 53,400 bamboo saplings have been planted and 226 kilometres of vetiver grass has been cultivated. Vetiver grass is used for erosion control. Goyal said that out of the 850 drains, 601 required cleaning this year, which has been completed. So far, 4,766 kilometres of drains have been cleaned. The department completed drain desilting using departmental machinery, resulting in 65 per cent cost savings compared to contractor work, he said. The locations where embankments were breached during previous years have been specially reinforced and sandbags have been strategically placed at 94 vulnerable locations across the state as a precautionary measure, he added. Goyal said the Water Resources Department has implemented several strategic measures to handle emergencies, including the procurement of 8.76 lakh sandbags. Of these, 3.24 lakh sandbags have been filled and kept ready. For rapid response during emergencies, locations of sandbags have been uploaded onto the Geographic Information System , he said. For the first time, the minister said, the department has purchased 10,300 jumbo bags to enable quick breach filling. Goyal said water levels in all major dams in the state are within the safe limit and there is no cause for concern. The Bhakra dam currently stands at 1,618.38 feet, which corresponds to the average requirement of the past 20 years. The dam has a maximum capacity of 1,680 feet and is currently 47 feet below the 2023 flood level, he said. The Pong dam, which has a maximum capacity of 1,390 feet, stands at 1,346.15 feet 30.78 feet lower than the 2023 flood level. The Ranjit Sagar dam, with a maximum capacity of 1,731.55 feet, currently stands at 1,664.72 feet 5.49 feet below the 20-year average and 54 feet below the 2023 flood year level. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
News18
8 hours ago
- Climate
- News18
Punjab minister reviews arrangements to deal with potential floods
Chandigarh, Jul 29 (PTI) Punjab Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal on Tuesday reviewed the arrangements made by his department to deal with any potential floods. He said the government has completed the cleaning of the state's drainage systems and strengthened embankments to tackle any flood-like situation. Many parts of Punjab have received moderate to heavy rain in recent days. Goyal said the state government has completed 1,220 projects worth Rs 276 crore to tackle any potential flood situation. These include river revetment work, installation of studs, strengthening operations and desilting of drains. Additionally, 600 check dams have been constructed and 1,104 more are under construction. Besides, 3,905 soak pits are being created, over 53,400 bamboo saplings have been planted and 226 kilometres of vetiver grass has been cultivated. Vetiver grass is used for erosion control. Goyal said that out of the 850 drains, 601 required cleaning this year, which has been completed. So far, 4,766 kilometres of drains have been cleaned. Goyal said the Water Resources Department has implemented several strategic measures to handle emergencies, including the procurement of 8.76 lakh sandbags. Of these, 3.24 lakh sandbags have been filled and kept ready. For rapid response during emergencies, locations of sandbags have been uploaded onto the Geographic Information System (GIS), he said. For the first time, the minister said, the department has purchased 10,300 jumbo bags to enable quick breach filling. Goyal said water levels in all major dams in the state are within the safe limit and there is no cause for concern. The Bhakra dam currently stands at 1,618.38 feet, which corresponds to the average requirement of the past 20 years. The dam has a maximum capacity of 1,680 feet and is currently 47 feet below the 2023 flood level, he said. The Pong dam, which has a maximum capacity of 1,390 feet, stands at 1,346.15 feet — 30.78 feet lower than the 2023 flood level. The Ranjit Sagar dam, with a maximum capacity of 1,731.55 feet, currently stands at 1,664.72 feet — 5.49 feet below the 20-year average and 54 feet below the 2023 flood year level. PTI SUN DIV DIV view comments First Published: July 29, 2025, 22:30 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
New Indian Express
18 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Andhra govt santions Rs 489 crore for Muktyala Lift Irrigation Project
VIJAYAWADA: The State government has sanctioned Rs 489.28 crore for the long-pending Muktyala Lift Irrigation Project, reviving hopes among farmers in Jaggayyapeta and Nandigama mandals of NTR district. The project is expected to irrigate around 39,000 acres and meet the drinking water needs of approximately 30 villages. Officials will construct the project on the left bank of the Krishna River, near Muktyala village, about 4 km downstream of the Pulichintala Project in Jaggayyapeta mandal. The scheme is designed to lift 2.7 TMC of water, with the discharge of 386.27 cusecs, operating 16 hours per day over 120 days. Initially proposed during the TDP regime in 2018, the government issued GO RT No.61 on January 25, 2019, granting administrative sanction for Rs 489.28 crore. However, the YSRCP regime later relocated the project to Vedadri and renamed it as the YSR Vedadri Lift Irrigation Scheme. YSRCP chief and former chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy laid the foundation stone on August 28, 2020, but the project did not progress. During the 2024 election campaign, Vijayawada MP Kesineni Sivanath pledged to revive the original proposal. Following the alliance government's electoral victory, he, along with Jaggaiahpet MLA Sriram Rajagopal, approached Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu and Water Resources Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu to push for its revival. Their efforts, supported by recommendations from the Water Resources Department, led to the re-sanctioning of the project. On July 18, the government approved the continuation of 71 irrigation works across the state, including the Muktyala Lift Irrigation Scheme. Of these, 38 works had seen less than 25% progress, while 33 had not commenced. TDP government officially restored the name Muktyala Lift Irrigation Scheme in August 2024. Nandigama mandal DC Chairman R Chandrasekhar welcomed the development, stating that the project would transform the lives of farmers in the region. He expressed gratitude to CM Chandrababu Naidu and MP Kesineni Sivanath for their role in reviving the scheme.
New Indian Express
a day ago
- Climate
- New Indian Express
Bhavani water eludes several ponds under Athikadavu-Avinashi project
TIRUPPUR/ERODE: Even as a few dams have been opened in the state in the last few days following ample rain in their catchment areas several water bodies which are relied upon by farmers are dry. A section of the farmers mull a protest as water has eluded several ponds under the Athikadavu-Avinashi project despite the opening of the Lower Bhavani Dam (Bhavani Sagar Dam) the other day. "Many water bodies in the village panchayats, including Nambiyampalayam, Thekkalur, Karuvalur, Pudupalayam, Uppilipalayam, and Kittampalam, are dry," stated S Thangamuthu, a farmer and coordinator of the Athikadavu-Avinashi Project Agitation Committee, from Thekkalur. "After many decades of struggle, the Athikadavu-Avinashi project came into operation last year. However, in many places, water bodies are still not receiving enough water. In some places, water is not reaching the ponds," he added. "We complained to the officials several times regarding this. But no action has been taken. At present, excess water from the Bhavani Sagar Dam has been released into the river. About 16,700 cusecs of excess water was released on Monday. Even then, there is no water supply to the ponds in our area. We face drought even though the project is operational. We are preparing to mobilise farmers in this regard and launch a series of protests soon." K Balraj, a farmer of Cheyur village, said, "Water bodies in major cities and villages are filled by this scheme. But authorities are not concerned about water bodies in remote villages. Many water bodies in our area are without sufficient water. Authorities are biased in water distribution. This will definitely bring disrepute to the government among farmers and the public." However, a senior official of the Water Resources Department (WRD) for the Athikadavu-Avinashi project (Avinashi Division) told TNIE that these issues will be resolved in a few days.
