Anantapur: Inadequate water allocation from Tungabhadra reservoir at Hospet in Karnataka towards the High Level Main Canal (HLMC) has become the bone of contention between MLAs from Anantapur and Kadapa district.
Increased silt in the reservoir has reduced water allocations for Karna-taka and Andhra Pradesh. About 22.75 TMC ft has been allocated for the present year based on available sources on damasha basis.
To add to woes, the dilapidated condition of main canal on the 100 km stretch from the reservoir to the state makes it difficult to distribute the allocated quota towards AP.Official sources say, that although 3,000-3,500 cusecs of water is released from the reservoir point, the state receives only about 1,500 cusecs due to loss of water as a result of breaches and tapping by the farmers in Karnataka.
Breaches in the Handri Neeva Sujala Shravanthi canal from Malyal in Kurnool district towards Jeedipalli in Anantapur district further reduces the force from Krishna backwaters.
HNSS water is diverted to Penna Ahobilum Balancing Reservoir (PABR) from where Anantapur and Kadapa districts get water through branch canals.
The HLMC irrigation officials are having a tough time dealing with MLAs threatening for priority in water allocations to their constituencies. Civil supplies minister P. Sunitha plans to release PABR water to Peruru reservoir in Ramagiri mandal in her constituency, while Tadipatri MLA J. C. Prabhakar Reddy is mounting pressure on officials to release allocated quota to Chagallu reservoir.
Further, YSRC leader Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy is pressurising irrigation authorities to release full quota to Pulivenudla Branch Canal before releasing water to other parts of Anantapur district. PBC is located at the tailend of HLMC.
Irrigation authorities have decided to release water to 49 tanks in various parts of the district from PABR on October 20. Nearly, 1.5 TMC ft has been allocated for the purpose to meet drinking water requirements of the villages and urban areas.
