Anantapur: Inter-district water disputes have been creating distance among the people of Rayalaseema reg-ion following poor allocations and diversion of water at upstream areas.
Recent verdict by the Brijesth Kumar Tribu-nal on Krishna waters had further created cha-os as many projects in Rayalaseema region we-re not recognised even as state government had allocated water for the irrigation and drinking water projects.
Disputes being witnessed between Kurn-ool-Anantapur, Anant-apur-Kadapa, Kadapa-Chittor and also with the nearby Bellary district for the past few years.
Farmers of Anantapur and Kurnool have been suffering with diversion and piping by Karna-taka farmers between Hospet and state borders.
Farmers under Tungabhadra low level canal have been facing critical situation due to non-release of water through the LLC from TB reservoir.
In addition, farmers in Karnataka were pumping out Kurnool quota meant to mitigate drinking water and irrigation needs in Adoni division of Kurnool district.
Nearly 45,000 acres of crop was withering und-er the LLC canal in Kur-nool.
Similarly, farmers of Anantapur were unable to draw assured allocated water in time throu-gh the Tungabhadra hi-gh level main canal due to evaporation losses and illicit pumping and diversion of water to industries in Karnatka.
The farmers under KC canal have been staging protest for the past few days demanding release of sufficient water to save existing crops under kharif season in Kurnool district.
The fa-rmers had stopped pum-ping of Krishna water to the Handri Neeva Sujala Shravanthi Irrigation and Drinking water project several times at first pumping station near Malyala in Kurnool district. Krishna backwater is allocated to me-et drinking and irrigation needs of Kurnool, Anantapur, Kadapa and Chittor districts.
However, majority portion is allotted to Anan-tapur following severe drought situation.
Kurnool farmers were blaming Anantapur lea-ders for drawing Krish-na water to Handri Neeva project and threatening the government to stop pumping of water if adequate is water not released to KC canal.
The issue had created differences between farmers of Kurnool and Anantapur districts.
Mean while, Tadipathri former municipal chairperson J.C.Prabhakar Reddy had shut down crest gates at Pulivendula branch canal by diverting water to Tadipathri Branch Canal in Anatnapur district.
The Tadipathri leader took extreme step for Kadapa leaders n’t allowed to release assured water to JC Nagi Reddy canal from Gandikota reservoir.
In addition, Dharmavaram MLA K.Venkatrami Reddy stopped releasing of water from Chitravathi Balancing Reservoir to Kadapa district two days ago, protesting against ignoring villages in Dharmavaram Assembly segment.
An irrigation expert observed the government should take proper measures ensuring farmers of various districts and areas to avail assured allocate water.
