Farmers left high & dry as Jurala water goes down the drain

Mahbubnagar: Even though there is a huge inflow of water into Jurala project since past one week, the apathy of irrigation officials has failed to fill the 2 tmcft capacity of Koilsagar reservoir in Mahbubnagar district.

As there is no water reaching Koilsagar from Jurala project, the farmers under Koilsagar ayacut staged a protest on Tuesday demanding immediate release of water by lifting from Tileru project.

However, the Irrigation officials are expressing their helplessness in releasing water into Koilsagar because, the lift motors at Tileru pump house have become defunct and it is impossible to repair them in a short time period.

Going by this, the Koilsagar famers left to face the agony of lack of irrigation water for this Kharif season as they are helplessly staring at the Jurala water going down stream but not able to utilise it for the irrigation purpose.

The farmers have alleged that it is because of the callous attitude of the irrigation officials who had failed to check the condition of lift motors before hand and make them ready before the flood water comes.

At present the authorities have lifted water from Jurala by Undhyala lift and supplying water to Parthipur reservoir.

The Parthipur reservoir is already filled up, however, the pumps at Teleru which are for lifting water from Parthipur reservoir are defunct because of which the water to be lifted into Koilsagar canal is left in the limbo.

"It is like we have food in our plates but not able to eat it. It is a sheer neglect of the Irrigation officials, who have failed to get checked the status of the lifts and pumps.

If there is no water for about one more week, we have to lose hopes for this season, even if water is supplied later, it will not be conducive to take up paddy sowing," said the protesting farmers of Koilsagar Ayacut.

Currently, Jurala project is receiving more than 2 lakh cusecs of flood water from Narayanpur. As per Chief Minister's instructions, as soon as the flood water is reaching Jurala, the project engineers are lifting the water from Jurala and supplying it to Koilsagar, Nettampadu and Bheema projects, however, the water meant for Koilsagar is reaching half way and stopped at Parthipur reservoir.

Infact this water is to be lifted with two motors at Tileru pump house first lift and about 2 TMC capacity of water is to be pumped into the Koilsagar canal.

But due to official apathy the water is not reaching Koilsagar and the farmers under the Koilsagar Ayacut are in deep distress.