Kuntala waterfall runs dry so early

The dried up Kuntala waterfall 

The Kuntala waterfall has run dry- and with it, the enthusiasm of the tourists who have been thronging there in large numbers only to turn away disappointed.

Most of the devotees who visited Basar temple on the occasion of Vasantha Panchami are also visiting Kuntala waterfall but returned with disappointment.

Sama Shiva of Vijayawada was one of them, who said that it would be have been helpful if the Tourism department had put out an advisory or notice, informing the people accordingly as locals at Basar had misinformed him, other tourists too felt that there was a need for signboards, carrying full details about the waterfall, the best time to visit and warnings against going into the deep or onto slippery spots.

“But it has dried earlier than usual this year due to successive drought conditions” which was generally goes dry by April ending, said Sharada , manager of a hotel near the waterfall . 

She surmised that this was why tourists from districts from the district were staying away while those from other states had been coming expectantly.

The streams and rivulets which flow into Kuntala waterfall have dried perhaps due to high temperatures, say locals, the water usually disappearing by the end of  April.  

Kuntala waterfall turns rock climbing site

The famous Kuntala waterfall has turned into a rock climbing site for visitors as the waterfall has dried up. People visiting Kuntala waterfall are climbing the rock easily without any rope.

Water flows into Kuntala waterfall mainly from the Kupti rivulet in Neredigonda mandal. Apart from taking a cool dip in the water, the waterfall, when it is flowing, is good place to take picture.

However, visitors fulfilling their desire taking pictures standing on the top of the water fall without facing any danger.

Birkurwar Venkatesh of Adilabad town, who visited the Kuntala waterfall along with relatives two days ago said, they climbed up the Kuntala waterfalls as it has gone dry and pose no danger to the visitors.

He said most visitors are not taking the steps and climbing down the waterfall from its top and taking photographs wherever they want on the rocky area.            

Security persons posted at the Kuntala waterfall  following the several instances of tourists  drowning , are also not imposing any restrictions on the movements of the visitors.

Tourists expressed fears that if this was the situation of Kuntala waterfall going dry for five months in the summer and the situation become worse if the proposed lift irrigation constructed on the Kupti rivulet by the state government.

R. Srinivas of Kumari village of Neredigonda mandal said, the water flow into Kuntala waterfall has started getting decreased by last September as water flow had come down from Boath and Bajarhatnoor irrigation projects.

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