Big Water Reservoirs in Andhra Pradesh

Big Water Reservoirs in Andhra Pradesh with more than 10 TMC capacity are around 12 as of now. The Mighty Polavaram is not in the list as of now because it is still being constructed. List of Big water Reservoirs in Andhra Pradesh with more than 10 TMC capacity shows projects which are also shared by both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Majority of the water projects in this list are built on River Krishna and Penna showing how crucial these rivers. Lets analyze and know some important facts.

List of Big water Reservoirs in Andhra Pradesh

Nagarjuna Sagar is the biggest water reservoir of Andhra Pradesh

It is one of the biggest water reservoirs built in India in yesteryear united Andhra Pradesh connecting two banks of River Krishna in Nalgonda District. The Dam connects Guntur and Nalgonda district whereas majority of Land submerged in water belongs to Telangana region. With a capacity of 312.05 TMCs , it is the biggest water project in entire Telugu states and one of the big in country. It serves as both irrigation and also hydro electric project.

Water is distributed through right and left canals to Guntur, Ongole districts of Andhra Pradesh. Based on water availability , water is allocated to Khammam and Nalgonda districts of Telangana also. However, the majority of water is distributed to Andhra Guntur and Ongole regions.

Srisailam Project is the biggest and marvelous Hydro Electric project

: Built around 80 kms before Nagarjuna Sagar on river krishna is both irrigation and Hydroelectric project. Dam built in a way connecting two banks of river krishna , out of which the norther bank belongs to Telangana and southern falls in Andhra Pradesh. Majority of the land submerged belongs to both Telangana and Andhra.

Basically this was a hydroelectric project and later it was planned to serve Madras city water problem with little allocation of over 15 TMCs through right canal.

It is alleged that with the reason of allocating 15 TMCs to chennai city ( which is another state and doesn’t fall under Krishna basin – hundreds of miles away ) , Rayalaseema politicians have sketched a plan to loot Srisailam water.

Pothireddy Padu head regulatory is one such project which is built to draw back waters of Srisailam to Rayalaseems region.

Somasila Project

Built on Penna river in Kadapa district is a pure water project. Rain water and Penna river were the only water sources but due to Telugu Ganga project to serve water to Chennai, this project is always seen water filled (entire area of Rayalaseema receives less than average rain fall and there is no way water can be available through out the year. Water is brought in to this project from Srisailam through Gravity.

The Project is built with 78 TMCs but the River Penna doesn’t generally has the capacity of even 50 TMCs during normal years. As this is not a big perennial river like Krishna or Godavari and also the entire region is like drought prone and receives less rain fall.

Huge water from Srisailam project is pumped in to this project through Right canal.

Kandaleru project

Though this is built on kandaleru river (Small stream river ), it is also part of the Telugu Ganga project and draws water from Srisailam project.

Kandaleru doesn’t even generally has the flow of 50 TMCs but the project is built for around 70+ TMCs as it is also filled with krishna water from Srisailam through right canal ( Telugu Ganga project ).

Pulichinthala Project :

In between Nagarjuna Sagar and Krishna Barrage , a new project was built to control flood during monsoon and store water and divert it to Guntur and Ongole districts. A few 13000 acres are also served water in Nalgonda district of Telangana.

Gandikota Reservoir

Built on Penna River. Also draws water from Krishna River of Srisailam project and supplies water to Pulivendula.

Yeleru project is one such project built on tributary of Godavari in Hills. It holds rain water and hillywater and is one of the major projects of North Andhra.

Brahma Sagar project is built to store the water collected from Srisailam Krishna river. It is also built part of Telugu Ganga.

Velugodu balancing reservoir :

This is the major project which draws water from Srisailam project. Look the below picture how the back water is pushed in to this project miles away from Krishna river through canals and stored there. From Velugodu , the Krishna river is sent to all the above mentioned Projects under Telugu Ganga project.

Telangana activists claimed that around 200 TMCs of water is sent through these projects and served to Rayalaseema regions whereas mere 15 TMCs is actually served to chennai.