Nellore: District administration will request the government to release 5,000 cusecs of Krishna water from Srisailam to Somasila project to address the irrigation needs in view of the failure of northeast monsoon.
The deficit in rainfall to the extent of 34.2 per cent during northeast monsoon led the farming sector to depend totally on Somasila reservoir unlike never before. The monsoon contributes nearly 13 tmc ft to Somasila every year.
The situation will lead to crisis for drinking water in summer if available water in Somasila is used for irrigation. In this backdrop, finance minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy has advised the authorities to send a request to the government to release 13 tmc from Srisailam during a review with irrigation officials and the collector here on Saturday. He assured to take up the issue with the minister and higher authorities.
The minister took objections by opposition that water is being released to Chennai city ignoring the interests of farmers of SPSR Nellore. According to the minister, 1,650 cusecs is being released into Sai Ganga canal (Kandaleru-Poondi canal) and 1,610 cusecs is being used by farmers located under the canal and only 40 cusecs is being released to Tamil Nadu.
Referring to 56.6 tmc ft available in Somasila and 34.05 tmc in Kandaleru, he promised water for all the ayacut under the projects as decided during irrigation advisory board meeting.
He directed the authorities to form teams with officials to monitor the water distribution system for judicious use of the precious commodity.
Reddy also asked the officials to release water to V, VII and VIII branch canals under Telugu Ganga project to address the irrigation needs of farmers in Gudur, Sullurpeta and Venkatagiri areas.
He said that the legislators and farmers of the area have urged him to save the crops under the canals. He told officials to ensure water to standing crops and prevent withering under any circumstances.
