Crops in delta region will be saved

Eluru: District Collector K Bhaskar directed the Superintending Engineer Dowleswaram Head Works to ensure supply 4,500 cusecs of water daily to the Godavari Western Delta farmers who are cultivating the Rabi crop.

During his telephonic conversation with the Superintending Engineer Rambabu, the District Collector pointed out that as the inflow in the Godavari River decreased, the tail-end farmers are not getting sufficient water.

He stressed on the importance of saving every under the ayacut and asked the officials to make necessary water allocations for the entire ayacut.

At the same time, water should be supplied without downing the levels in canals, the Collector maintained. He directed the SE to divert water from Sileru reservoir so as to maintain water level in Godavari River.

If the ayacut farmers are supplied with the Godavari water continuously for over ten days without interruption, the Rabi crop can be saved, the Collector noted.

SE Rambabu told the Collector that due to the Godavari River inflow coming down to 2,500 cusecs, Irrigation department officials are prompted to divert 5,400 cusecs of water from Sileru reservoir to the Godavari River.

At present, nearly 7,900 cusecs water is being released from the Head Works, he added. , The Collector made a suggestion to the SE that through maintaining 4,500 cusecs of water, another 1,000 cusecs of water can be drawn from Sileru reservoir to supply water to the Western Delta farmers.