Guntur: Water for western delta to be released in July second week

Guntur: The government is likely to release water for Krishna western delta region in Guntur district in the second week of July. The Irrigation officials are making arrangements to release the water in the backdrop of release of Pattiseema Lift Irrigation Scheme water into the canal.

The water has already reached Krishna barrage. The Irrigation officials have said if water is released in July second week, transplantation will be completed in one month.

According to Irrigation officials, water is being released from Pattiseema LIs on June 18. With the increase of water levels in Godavari, Pattiseema LIs water is being released from 14 pumps.

At present, 4,900 cusecs of water is being released into canal per day. If water level increases further in Godavari, the officials will release water from 21 pumps through Pattiseema LIs.

The Irrigation department decided to release water to fill the drinking water tanks and summer storage tanks to meet drinking water needs. After that, water will be released to Krishna eastern delta.

Later, water will be released to Krishna western delta region in Guntur district to irrigate 5.63 lakh acres. Due to incessant rains in the catchment area, the inflows are increasing into Almatti Dam. At present the dam is getting 50,000 cusecs per day.

Meanwhile, the farmers are making arrangements to start agriculture operations.The Irrigation officials have said that there will be no water problem in kharif season.

Speaking to Hans India,Irrigation department Superintending Engineer P Babu Rao said, "First we will release water to fill drinking tanks. Later, we release water for farm operations."