Nagarjuna Sagar gates open after 18 years

Initially, gates 13 and 14 were lifted, followed by eight more gates raised to a height of 8 feet. In total, 14 gates were opened to a height of 5 feet, discharging 78,060 cusecs of water

Minister for  Irrigation, Food and Civil Supplies  N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Tuesday led the ceremonial opening of the crest gates of the Nagarjuna Sagar Project, following heavy inflows from upstream.

The project, situated in Nalgonda district, turned into a brimful reservoir after continuous rainfall, prompting the first release of floodwater in July after 18 years.

Ministers Uttam Kumar Reddy and Adluri Laxman Kumar, accompanied by local MLAs and senior irrigation officials, offered special prayers to Krishnamma before opening the gates. Initially, gates 13 and 14 were lifted, followed by eight more gates raised to a height of 8 feet. In total, 14 gates were opened to a height of 5 feet, discharging 78,060 cusecs of water. Later, 68,000 cusecs were released additionally through the raised gates.

As of Tuesday, the water level at Nagarjuna Sagar stood at 587.20 feet, just short of the Full Reservoir Level (FRL) of 590 feet, with a storage of 305.62 TMC against a full capacity of 312.04 TMC. The inflow was recorded at 2,28,900 cusecs, while outflow reached 1,18,790 cusecs.

Authorities have issued alerts to people in downstream and low-lying areas, advising caution and restricting entry into flood-prone zones. The situation is under constant monitoring.

Addressing the media at the site, Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy described the event as deeply symbolic. “This is not just a dam, but a modern temple of irrigation. It reflects the vision of our national leaders and the hopes of lakhs of farmers. It’s a proud moment to open these gates and witness Krishnamma in her full glory,” he said.

Uttam Kumar Reddy recalled that the foundation stone for Nagarjuna Sagar was laid by India’s first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on 10 December 1955, and the project was inaugurated by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1967. The crest gates were completed in 1974, and the project celebrated its golden jubilee in 2005.

“The Nagarjuna Sagar Dam is a testimony to India’s engineering excellence and agricultural foresight. It irrigates a total of 22.12 lakh acres, including 6.30 lakh acres in Telangana and 4.08 lakh acres in Andhra Pradesh,” he said.

 Uttam Kumar Reddy, who has been elected six times as MLA and once as MP from the Nagarjuna Sagar ayacut region, said ensuring water to the last field is his mission. “As a son of this soil, I’ve seen farmers wait for water at the tail ends. Today, I stand here not just as a Minister but as one among them - committed to delivering every drop,” he said.

The dam is also generating 700 megawatts (MW) of power through seven units at the main plant, and an additional 60 MW through two units on the left canal, powered by a consistent 30,000 cusecs water flow over the past four days.

The Minister informed that ahead of the kharif season, the state government released 3,000 cusecs of water through the left canal, even before the formal schedule, to support early sowing. This, the Minister said, is part of the state's comprehensive irrigation strategy.

Uttam Kumar Reddy said the inflows are expected to continue over the next few days and that gate operations will be adjusted accordingly to manage flood levels.