1,000 Cusecs of Water to Be Released to Yeleru Reservoir, Says Deputy CM

The Irrigation Advisory Board meeting has decided to provide water to 53,000 acres in command area under the Yeleru reservoir, following a request from public representatives, and decided to release 1,000 cusecs subject to availability in the reservoir.

The released water will provide irrigation to 22,000 acres in the Pithapuram constituency as well as the command areas within the Peddapuram and Jaggampeta constituencies also.

Due to the El Nino impact, the water levels are low in Yeleru reservoir and it is doubtful whether the farmers would go for the Kharif crop.

Deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan made hectic efforts for the past one week, discussing matters with irrigation officials and convincing them about the need to help farmers with water. Officials agreed to provide water to the Yeleru dam and other water tanks.

The IAB meeting was held here on Tuesday. After the meeting, district collector Harindhera Prasad told the mmedi that rainfall has decreased over the past four months due to the El Nino. Water levels in the Godavari have receded.

To overcome these challenges and as per the suggestions given by the deputy CM, the IAB has prepared a clear plan to supply water to the entire 53,000 acre ayacut (command area) under the Yeleru reservoir.

Kalyan later said 1,000 cusecs of water would be released to the reservoir – or to the extent the water availability in the reservoir permits. This water would irrigate 22,000 acres in Pithapuram constituency, as well as to the ayacut areas within the Peddapuram and Jaggampeta constituencies.

He said that once farmers at the tail-end utilised the water, the irrigation department would strictly regulate the supply and adhere to schedule for the ayacut areas in Pithapuram, Peddapuram and other sections. In view of the rainfall deficit, he appealed to the farmers to opt for ‘irrigated dry’’ crops that require less water.

The deputy CM advised the farmers planning to transplant paddy, to consider the current risks and obtain crop insurance to avoid future financial losses. Efforts, he said, are being made to provide water through Purushothapatnam lift irrigation scheme by implementing effective water management methods.

He also stated that water would be supplied to Ramanakkapeta, Ameenabad and other areas of U Kothapalli mandal through Pithapuram branch canal. “We will soon complete the remaining canal works to supply water to the tail-end fields.”

Kakinada Lok Sabha member Tangella Uday Srinivas said that while rainfall decreased by 90 per cent across the state, a deficit of 63 per cent has been recorded locally. The meteorological department forecast a likely rainfall deficit of at least 30 per cent in the coming days, he noted.

He said that only 8.2tmc of water is available out of 15tmc and that IAB has decided to make use of the dead-storage water and lift the water through the Godavari river.

MLC Hari Prasad said that an alternative scheme estimated at `3 crore has been prepared to transport water through LIS if gravity-based flow becomes unfeasible.