Farmers waiting for evasive rain in Srikakulam

Srikakulam: The paddy cultivation works are yet to begin in the five mandals of Madduvalasa Reservoir Project (MRP) ayacut. The project situated at Magguru village in Vangara mandal across Vegavathi and Suvarnamukhi rivers, irrigates 24,875 acres under first phase and 12, 500 acres under second phase. The ayacut area is covered under both right main canal (RMC) and left main canal (LMC) in five mandals, Vangara, Regidi, Santhakaviti, G Sigadam and Ponduru. The total length of each canal both RMC and LMC is 50 kilometres from the reservoir.

The full water level is 65 meters but this year due to deficit rainfall, the water level as on Monday stood at 61.7 meters.

Farmers of all the five mandals are in dilemma whether to start kharif works or not. "We are waiting for water from MRP this year and yet to start even paddy nursery works," S Gopala Rao, P Annam Naidu, P Ramesh farmers of Regidi mandal said. "Every year we are receiving water from MRP by second week of July and expecting water, we had started works but this year situation turned pathetic due to scanty rainfall," A Srinivasa Rao, P Thaviti Naidu, K Ramu, P Suryanarayana farmers of Santhakviti mandal stated.

"Not even a moderate rainfall reported in the last two months in our area which results in stall of kharif works," M Rameshnaidu, M Ramana, K Rama Rao of Vangara mandal said.

"At present, available water in the reservoir is not sufficient for kharif. If we release water, it will cover up to ten kilometres distance and the water exhaust in the reservoir by 10 days so that we stopped release of water and waiting for copious rains and good inflows," stated MRP Executive Engineer K Pradeep Kumar to The Hans India.

"The water level is not at all sufficient for kharif crops that too paddy crop replantation works which requires more water," stated MRP Deputy Executive Engineer Narmada Patnaik.