Rains in last one week raise hopes for kharif crops in Chittoor

Tirupati: Several places in Chittoor district have been receiving rains for the past one week and farmers hope that they will get adequate water for irrigation for this kharif season where the crops are cultivated in an area of 1.35 lakh hectares.

Streams and rivulets came to life and started flowing improving ground water and also resulting in inflows to the tanks all over the district. The ground water level also increased by 1.5 metre, sources said.

Though 15 per cent deficit rain fall was recorded in June, in the subsequent months the district received more than the average rainfall. Deputy Director (Ground Water) Sankaraiah said that ground water level will further improve if rains are continued.

The rains also triggered agriculture operations for contingency crop in an extent of about 50,000 hectares in July and August. Thus the total crop area of 1.85 hectare was covered in the season due to good rains, according to Joint Direct (Agriculture) Vijayakumar.

In Tirupati, due to heavy rains on the Seshachalam hills, the waterfall at Kapilatheertham and Malavanigundam came to life and are flowing in full attracting the pilgrims. On Saturday rains lashed the pilgrim city disrupting normal life for more than an hour in the afternoon. However, officials of municipal corporation have taken steps to clear the drains and there was no inundation.