Excess drawing of TB water by Karnataka farmers has impacts Kurnool tillers
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Anantapur: Silt in the Tungabhadra reservoir and further proposed constructions across the rivers in upstream areas are creating havoc for the farmers of Rayalaseema region. The demand for a parallel canal has been there in Bellary and Anantapur districts since long as the farmers under the Left Bank canal of the project have been resorting to excess withdrawal of water often. As a result, the Right Bank canals were being deprived of their allocated share regularly.
But, Karnataka declined. Though, the Tungabhadra Board controls the entire project, it is unable to control over utilising the project water than the allocated share. On the anticipation that 144 tmcft of water would be released in the reservoir last year, against the reduced project capacity of 212 tmcft, Karnataka and AP were allocated 94 and 49 tmcft respectively.
However, the near drying of the reservoir has led to acute drinking water shortage in Kurnool district. The matter of excessive drawing of water from Karnataka farmers had an impact on Kurnool district every year, said Mantrayalam MLA Bala Nagi Reddy. Former union minister K. Jayasuryaprakash Reddy had proposed for pipeline from 0 km to state borders to curb illicit piping.
A study of data reveals that the Tungabhadra reservoir has received higher yield than its total storage capacity of 230 tmcft in 43 out of the last 50 years since 1952-53. During seven years the water yield was lesser than the storage capacity. The amount of surplus water has ranged between 35 tmcft and 300 tmcft in 17 out of the last 25 years.
“The only dependable water source in HLMC was delivering only 50 per cent of the allocated water every year on account of silt in the reservoir. Piling up silt in Tungabhadra reservoir had brought down its annual water holding capacity from 212 to 150 TMC ft,”said YSRC MLA Visweswar Reddy and alleged failure of government to negotiate with Karnataka to convince for parallel canal.
The TB reservoir water is used to supply water to downstream barrages Rajolibanda and Sunkesula and reaches into Srisailam dam. The HLMC is supposed to irrigate fields under Pulivendula Branch Canal of Kadapa and Tadipatri Branch Canal in Anantapur in tail-end areas. A senior engineer lamented that HLC engineers have to face embarrassing situation from leaders of Tadipatri and Pulivendula over releasing of water.
Kadapa MP Mithun Reddy alleged the government was showing apathy towards Kadapa district by not releasing allocated sources from HLMC. Meanwhile, pipeline drinking water projects, depending on Tungabhadra water sources, was facing shortage of supply even during season. “Hindupur municipality is still facing shortage of water and people have to purchase a pot of water at Rs.5,” YSRC leaderNaveen Nischal lamented. The Hindupur industrial estate is facing shortage of water as the connecting pipeline work is pending with the government.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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