Nivar keeps Chittoor farmers on toes

Tirupati: Farmers in Chittoor district are worried over the cyclone Nivar as many kharif crops are in harvesting and yielding stages. Met department forecast the deep depression in Bay of Bengal may cause widespread rain on November 26 and 27 in the district. If it happens, crops will suffer an immense damage. In view of this, the district collector urged the farmers to harvest the maximum extent of crops like paddy, tomato and other vegetables and floriculture.

According to agriculture department, paddy in around 7,500 acres is ready for harvesting. Similarly, tomato and other horticulture crops in around 35,000 acres are at yielding stage. As of now farmers have invested lakhs of rupees on these crops.

Following the cyclone warning by the IMD, district collector N Bharat Gupta sounded alert and directed officials to stay in mandal headquarters to monitor the situation round-the-clock. He instructed the all tahsildars and water resource management department engineers to examine the tanks and reservoir bunds and strengthen them to prevent any breaches.

According to IMD alert, Sathyavedu, VaradaiahPalem, Thottambedu, BN Kandriga, Nagalapuram, Pichatur, Yerpedu, Srikalahasti, Renigunta, Tirupati Urban and Rural, Chandragiri, Pakala, Pulicherla, RCPuram, Vadamalapeta , Naryanavanam, Nidra, Vijayapuram and Nagari mandals will witness heavy to very heavy rainfall during next three days, i.e. November 25,26 and 27.

Due to sufficient rainfall received in the last three months all the minor irrigation tanks are brimming with water. This is also one more cause for worry for officials as further rains will breach the bunds.

District authorities have set up control rooms in every divisional headquarters, at Madanapalle, Tirupati and Chitooor.