Ramanaidu tells irrigation officials to watch north Andhra rivers, regulate Pattiseema and Purushothapatnam pumps

Andhra Pradesh Water Resources Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu. File | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Andhra Pradesh Water Resources Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu has directed senior irrigation officials to take advance measures to manage possible flooding because of the heavy rain in several parts of Andhra Pradesh.During a teleconference with senior officials on Thursday (September 24, 2026), Mr. Ramanaidu instructed the department to closely monitor weather forecasts and take flood-control measures based on advance information from the India Meteorological Department.He asked officials to continuously assess the inflows into reservoirs, rivers and streams and take appropriate measures based on the situation.The Minister directed officials to regulate the operation of the Pattiseema pumps based on the inflows into the Munneru and the flood situation in the Budameru. He also asked them to operate the Purushothapatnam pumps according to the rainfall received in the catchment area of the Yeleru reservoir.Inflows into the Yeleru reservoir are projected to rise from under 2,000 cusecs to about 27,000 cusecs around September 25, according to a forecast bulletin on the State’s Water Resources Information and Management System (APWRIMS).Mr. Ramanaidu directed officials to continuously monitor the water levels and flows in the Vamsadhara, Nagavali, Bahuda and Mahendratanaya rivers and alert people in vulnerable areas whenever necessary. Irrigation officials have already issued the first flood warning for the Vamsadhara and the Nagavali, Srikakulam Collector Swapnil Dinakar Pundkar said on Thursday.He asked irrigation officials to maintain continuous monitoring from the department’s war room and ensure that field-level officials remained available to respond to any emerging situation.Irrigation Special Chief Secretary Shashi Bhushan Kumar, KADA Commissioner Prashanthi, Adviser Venkateswara Rao, the Engineer-in-Chief, Chief Engineers, Superintending Engineers and other senior officials participated in the teleconference. Published - September 24, 2026 03:51 pm IST