Hyderabad set to gain as Pocharam dam release bolsters Manjira levels
Hyderabad: The 103-year-old Pocharam dam, the first project of Telangana built by the Nizam government, has successfully managed a major flood event, releasing more than 1.30 lakh cusecs into the Manjira River basin. This controlled release is expected to significantly bolster drinking water supplies for the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, which depend heavily on the Manjira River for drinking water.
The dam was constructed between 1916 and 1922 on the Allair River, a tributary of the Manjira River. It is built primarily of limestone, spans 1.7 kilometres in length, and features a 21-foot-high embankment. Originally built at a cost of Rs 27.11 lakhs, the project was designed to serve the irrigation and drinking water needs of the regions now within Kamareddy and Medak districts.
The reservoir handled a huge inflow of 1,82,000 cusecs. This was much more than its Maximum Flood Discharge (MFD) capacity of 70,000 cusecs after heavy rains hit Nizamabad district due to a low-pressure system. The resulting outflow reached 1.30 lakh cusecs, submerging local roads including the Medak-Ellareddy route and prompting officials to issue alerts to riverside communities.
Century-old Pocharam Dam withstands massive flood
Despite grave concerns about the structural integrity of the aging dam under such unprecedented pressure, it held firm. Telangana State Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy expressed relief and pride, stating, “Happy to share with you all, our 103-year-old Pocharam Project has bravely withstood a massive flood inflow of 1,82,000 cusecs, far beyond its MFD of 70,000 cusecs. After the tense moments yesterday, it was a great relief for me and my irrigation colleagues to see the project standing strong. Truly a proud and emotional moment.”
Although the project’s original storage capacity was 2.423 TMC, siltation has reduced it to 1.82 TMC. Even so, it continues to irrigate 10,500 acres through a network of 58 kilometres of canals and 73 distributaries, sustaining agricultural and drinking water needs for over a century, said a statement released by.
