Nagarjunasagar all geared up to host Varuna Yagam seeking abundant rains today

The Telangana government is set to host a grand Varuna Yagam at Nagarjunasagar on Monday, aiming to invoke abundant rainfall across the Krishna and Godavari river basins. This Vedic ritual will see Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy participating, with Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy leading the proceedings. Around 108 priests and Vedic scholars will perform rituals at 11 homa kundams at the Vijay Vihar premises in Nagarjunasagar throughout the day.

The timing of this yagam is crucial for Telangana, as the southwest monsoon has only covered half its expected journey, and inflows into the Krishna and Godavari systems are below targets. The State's water security hinges not only on local rainfall but also on precipitation in upstream areas of Maharashtra and Karnataka, which significantly contribute to river flows.

Officials hope the ritual will lead to adequate inflows in reservoirs, tanks, and rivers, improve groundwater levels, and ensure farmers receive sufficient irrigation water during the ongoing agricultural season. Current reservoir figures indicate a concern, with Nagarjunasagar holding only 145.65 TMC of water out of its 312.045 TMC capacity, leaving 166.39 TMC vacant. The reservoir level stands at 518 feet, far below the full level of 590 feet.

Comparatively, last year on the same date, the reservoir had about 310.25 TMC, nearly full. While improvements are seen in the Krishna basin with Almatti receiving over 1.05 lakh cusecs of inflow, irrigation experts emphasize the need for sustained rainfall in upstream regions for steady river flows and full reservoirs. The government's primary objective is to secure abundant rainfall, healthy river flows, full reservoirs, and prosperity for Telangana's farming community.

The Varuna Yagam serves as a collective appeal for nature's support in safeguarding the State's water resources.