Siddapuram tank ‘laskars’ cause crops to wither away

Atmakuru: Bribing of gangmen of Siddapuram tank by vested interests has been resulting in crops getting submerged at some places and the crops in the tail-end lands withering away.

The Siddapuram Lift-Irrigation Scheme, executed with Rs 200 crore to store two TMC ft of water to irrigate 23000 acres, is going to be dedicated to the nation in two or three months. The lift-irrigation scheme is complete by 80 per cent.

District Collector Ch Vijaya Mohan, who learnt about the illegal selling of water by gangmen (laskars) who have been appointed to safeguard the Siddapuram tank, in cohorts with middlemen and some land lords, was incensed at the exploitation of the tail-end farmers.

Gangmen took advantage of staff shortage of Telugu-Ganga Department, under whose jurisdiction the maintenance of the Siddapuram tank is assigned, and are releasing water through the small culvert by accepting bribes to deliberately ensure the withering away of crops in tail-end farms. This also resulted in crops getting submerged under the water in some fields.

Upon ‘greasing’ palms, the gangmen instead of releasing water through the big culvert are closing down shutters apparently to save the water for the second crop of some big farmers whose lands figured at the mouth of the ayacut lands.

They are releasing excess water through the small culvert to suit their purpose.

It is an open secret to note that some gangmen have been induced by middlemen and some landlords luring them with money.

It may be recalled that a middleman dug up a canal overnight through Peddanantaram and Siddepalli villages with the help of a proclainer and routed water from the tank to his fields breaking the check-dam.

The affected farmers are alleging that the Telugu-Ganga farmers and gangmen have been keeping mum.

In some lands, blackgram and paddy fields are submerged, but the same crops are withering away in the tail-end lands because of the omissions and commissions of the gangmen.