Water for first crop from Nov 10

Nellore: The Irrigation Advisory Board (IAB) took a decision to release 39 tmcft of water to 3 lakh acres in the district from November 10 for the first crop under Somasila reservoir. The IAB meeting held here on Tuesday in which Municipal Administration Minister P Narayana took part.

Speaking on the occasion, Narayana said water would be released for 1.75 lakh acres under Penna delta; 22,400 acres under Kanupur canal; 50,000 acres under Kavali canal; 32,400 under North Feeder and 20,200 under South Feeder canals.

He explained that 3 tmcft of water for drinking water needs; 7.5 tmcft for dead storage; 1.5 tmcft for calculation of evaporation and the rest of the water would be utilised for irrigation needs.

The Minister made an appeal to farmers to use water judiciously. He said 7,000 agriculture motors under canal systems would be allowed to draw water only for two days in a week.

He also appealed to officials to plan for providing water for tail-end lands. Water users associations and farmers associations have to ensure misuse of water, the Minister said.

District Collector R Mutyala Raju said officials have to release water as per decision of the board and asked to them do it transparently. Earlier, MLC Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy proposed to provide water for 3 lakh acres against the initial proposal of water for 2.75 acres.

ZP Chairman B Raghavendra Reddy expressed anger over district officials for not implementing a comprehensive policy over release of water for the first crop. He suggested supply of water to dry lands in the district and to take up discussion over water release for the second crop. He left from the meeting when there was no response from Minister and people’s representatives. He criticised that officials have been acting injudiciously on water release and were showing inequality against non-delta farmers, he added.

Nellore MP Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy suggested for release of water irrespective of all categories from Somasila reservoir. Nellore Rural MLA K Sridhar Reddy asked the officials to allocate 2.5 tmcft of water for lands in Nellore rural area to irrigate first crop.

MLC Vakati Narayana Reddy said that there was a severe crisis for drinking water in Kavali, Sullurupeta, Tada, Udayagiri and Kavali constituencies and officials should focus on the issue on war-foot basis.

Sullurupeta MLA K Sanjeevaiah and former legislator N Subrahmanyam said that drinking water shortage in Sullurpeta constituency and Naidupeta municipality and asked officials to focus on the issue.

Gudur legislator P Sunil Kumar, Atmakur MLA M Goutham Reddy and others explained problems in their constituencies. Legislators P Anil Kumar Yadav, R Prathap Kumar Reddy, P Sreenivasulu Reddy, MLC Beeda Ravi Chandra, farmers and officials participated in the meeting.