Somasila Project's dilapidated canals need attention

Agriculture & Rural

Posted by AI on 2025-09-06 14:00:36 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-09-06 16:46:45

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The Somasila Project, which was built across the Pennar River near Somasila village in the district, has a gross storage capacity of 78 TMC feet. The project was originally planned to stabilize 4.05 acres of wet ayacut and create an additional 1.79 lakh acres of new ayacut for a total of 5.84 lakh acres. It would do this by transferring 15 TMC feet of Krishna water received through Pothireddypadu Head Regulator to Kandaleru Reservoir to meet Chennai's drinking water needs.

The project is now supplying 1.7 tmc feet of drinking water to various municipalities in Nellore, such as 1.3 tmc feet to Nellore, 0.3 tmc feet to Kavali, and 0.1 tmc feet to Atmakur. However, in 2021, the Somasila dam faced trouble managing gushing waters from Kapada and other regions, leading to a disastrous situation in managing huge floods. Now, one of the project's head regulators has washed away in the floods, affecting more than 40,000 acres of farmland.

Officials are making temporary arrangements to protect the gates until a more permanent solution is found.

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