Cyclone threat : Ponnala puts officials on alert

Major Irrigation Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah on Friday directed the irrigation engineers to be alert following the cyclone threat issued by Meteorological Department.

Talking to media persons after convening a meeting with Special Commissioner Sanjay Gupta and Irrigation chief engineer Rahman, Mr Lakshmaiah directed them to put all engineers on alert as the dams were brimming with water following heavy rains.

The Irrigation Minister asked the engineers to review water flow on hourly basis and lift flood gates based on the situation to prevent damage to property and lives.

Mr Lakshmaiah also directed the officials to shift people from low-lying areas to safer places. 

The Meteorological department had earlier in the day warned the officials that the state may receive heavy rains in the next 24 hours.

Godavari, Krishna, Vamsadhra and Nagavali rivers are in spate following heavy rains on upper stretches and discharging water into sea to avert floods this year, he pointed out.

The Irrigation Minister said 3300 TMC water from Godavari, 188 TMC water from Krishna and 38 TMC water from Vamsadhara have been discharged into sea to prevent floods. 

He said the officials have collected images from satellites to prove that the construction of irrigation dam on Babli taken up by Maharashtra government ‘illegal.’

The images will be produced in the Supreme Court to substantiate state government’s views, Mr Lakshmaiah stated.