Nellore: Tension prevailed on the National Highway at Konduru Satram in Manubolu mandal when farmers blocked the National Highway demanding water for their standing crops on Tuesday.
Suicide by an affected farmer Muppaneni Gangadhar, 39, on Monday has triggered the protest by a large number of farmers. Gangadhar hanged himself to death allegedly after his standing crop was affected due to non-availability of water.
According to information, there are more than 10,000 acre under Bandepalli branch canal, which receives water from Kanupuru canal. Of the 10,000 acre are under the ayacut, 5000 acre are under unauthorised cultivation.
The lands are located in Vadlapudi, Muddumudi, Veerampalli, Madamanur, Bandepalli, Konduru Satram, Gurivindapudu and Rajolupadu. All most all the villages are at the tail end of the canal and they have been facing acute shortage for water because of lack of supply to Kanupuru canal from Sangam barrage.
Farmers have been raising a hue and cry for water but there was hardly any action from irrigation wing.
In this backdrop, the suicide of Gangadhar sparked a row and the farmers led by former Kanupuru canal water users body chairman V. Bhaskar Reddy, Bandepalli sarpanch Avula Venkata Ramanaiah and Communist Party of India (Marxists) (CPI(M)) leader Katikala Venkateswarlu hit the road on Tuesday.
Traffic on the national highway came to a grinding halt for over one hour because of the dharna. They were pacified after the revenue officials as well as district collector N. Srikant, came to console the family of Gangadhar and promised to take steps to release water.
Meanwhile, the collector has sanctioned Rs 1.50 lakh aid to the family of Gangadhar during a visit their house at Konduru Satram on Tuesday. Nellore RDO Subrahmanyeswar Reddy was also present with the collector.
