Srikakulam: Water release schedule yet to be released for rabi crops

Srikakulam: Rabi crops are likely to face water scarcity in the district due to continuous dry spell since kharif season. The water levels in reservoirs and projects are affected due to long dry spell in the district. In this backdrop, water resources department (WRD) and Vamsadhara river project (VRP) officials are yet to announce schedule for release of water for current rabi crops. Gotta barrage across the river Vamsadhara and Hiramandal reservoir on the same river are providing water for 2.58 lakh acres through canals in 15 mandals across the district. But this year water levels in both Gotta Barrage and Hiramandal reservoir has come down due to no rains in the adjacent areas. Speaking to The Hans India, Superintendent Engineer (SE) of Vamsadhara river water projects Dola Tirumala Rao said that they were planning to release water for 20,000 acres through left main canal (LMC) and no water would be released through right main canal (RMC) due to ongoing repair works.

The ayacut area in Thotapalli reservoir on Nagavali river is 64,035 acres in nine mandals across the district. The officials are concentrating to fill water in ayacut area to meet summer drinking water scarcity. There is no adequate water for rabi crops under its ayacut also. Ayacut in another major reservoir Maddu Valasa is 24,700 acres spread in six mandals across the district. Water release schedule is not finalised even from this project also. Water release schedule will be decided in a meeting with higher officials soon, stated Superintendent Engineer (SE) S V Ramana Rao.