Farmers hopes revive as water from Palair released

Khammam: The hopes of the farmers were revived with the release of water from Palair reservoir through Nagarjunasagar Left Canal for protecting the standing Kharif crops cultivated in about 42,000 hectares in Khammam district.

It may be recalled that due to lack of rainfall, the farmers in the district were worried about the standing crops. Noticing their plight, the Roads and Buildings Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao had urged the Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao for release of water to save the crops in Khammam district. Meanwhile, the State government convinced the authorities of Krishna River Management Board for release of water to the ayacut in all the three zones of the canal system.

In this regard, the KRMB had allotted 115 tmc ft of water for the State. Soon the Irrigation officials were told to release water from Palair reservoir through Left canal. Executive Engineer of Nagarjunasagar Project Venkateshwarlu said, “Water from the project has been released into Palair reservoir for the last few days.

At present, about 4,800 cusecs of water is flowing into Palair reservoir. Three days ago, the water level which was at 13 feet in the Palair reservoir had reached 19 feet and will reach to a maximum of 23 feet with the inflow of four feet more.” He further advised the farmers to make judicious use of water.

Meanwhile, Sambaiah, a farmer who owns five acres in Kusumanchi mandal said, “My crops began to dry due to lack of rainfall. I lost hopes. However, with the orders of the R&B Minister, the officials released the water which will help protect my standing crop.”