Water release through Kadem project may be delayed

Luxettipet: The release of water to rabi through Kadem project canal ayacut lands appears to be doubtful because of obstructions to free flow of water in the canal.
Meanwhile, some farmers under agriculture wells in the ayacut lands cultivated paddy at some places during current rabi. .

However, Kadem project Executive Engineer venkateswar Rao said water will be released to the ayacut lands through Kadem project and Gudem lift-irrigation scheme in three or four days.

He asked farmers to raise only dry crops. Proposals have been submitted to the State government to undertake repairs to the canals and for fitting doors to sluices.

It appears a decision on the release of water from Kadem project to rabi crops will take place only after the conclusion of the winter session of the state legislative assembly.

The Kadem project irrigates lands in the ayacut mandals of Kadem, Jannaram, Dandepalli, Luxettipet and Hazipur. But, the condition of main canal and many distributary canals is worse at many places.

Negligence at every step, inordinate delays on the part of officials, lack of awareness on the part of farmers worsened the management of the canal system. As a result, on one hand the ayacut lands are not getting water and on the other precious water is flowing waste.

The water users’ associations worked effectively in the past are now disappeared. As a result, there is no participation of the farmer in the management of canal system. Further, the canals were neglected for want of efficient staff.

The water level in Kadem project measures at 693 feet. Moreover, there are no inflows into the reservoir from the above. As an ancillary to the project, Gudem-Godavari lift-irrigation scheme is functional.

Through Kadem project, Kadem and Dasturabad mandals in Nirmal district should get assured irrigation facility, while the lift-irrigation scheme irrigates lands in Jannaram,,Dandepalli,,Luxettipet and Hazipur mandals of Mancherial district.

Mancherial District Collector RV Karnan visited the Kadem project last month. In a meeting with authorities, he issued directions to officials to deploy NREGS workers to get the garbage from the canals removed.

The farmers are left devastated by demonetisation, lack of remunerative price for fine variety of paddy, payments made through cheques for the paddy sold, limit on withdrawal of Rs 24,000 a week from banks.

The farmer is facing problems in investing in rabi as well as clearing the kharif debts. In spite of these difficulties, the farmer prepared himself for the rabi.

To state an example, the paddy produce of many farmers is still waiting at their drying yard waiting for the traders to lift it.

They have adopted a wait-and-watch attitude expecting the government to get them remunerative price for the paddy.