26,000 Hectares Of Crop Inundated In Godavari Districts
If the water is stagnated for another three to four days, the transplanted paddy plants may be spoiled and farmers have to do the work all over again.
KAKINADA: The paddy crop bore the brunt of the heavy rains and floods in River Godavari, with an inundation of 26,317 hectares in 63 mandals of Eluru, Konaseema, Kakinada and the East and West Godavari districts.
If the water is stagnated for another three to four days, the transplanted paddy plants may be spoiled and farmers have to do the work all over again.
According to agriculture officials, though the floods did not have any major effect on East Godavari and Eluru districts, the remaining three districts would face odds. While the water level at the Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage was receding from morning to evening, the level rose in Bhadrachalam and it could further increase by Wednesday.
At the Dowleswaram barrage, a flow of 8,29,424 cusecs was recorded, but it receded to 7.40 lakh cusecs by evening. According to the head works engineers of Dowleswaram, the water level has increased at Bhadrachalam and it might rise further. The water levels at the Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage may rise by Wednesday.
With the flood alert on, East Godavari collector Prashanthi visited the Dowleswaram barrage and observed the flood situation on Tuesday. She said the Godavari was overflowing due to heavy rains in upstream areas and there existed a possibility of issuing the first warning at Dowleswaram on August 21.
She said the district administration was alerted and the islet village people should take precautionary steps due to the likelihood of floods. “The rehabilitation centres are getting ready and the islet village people can shift to these places for their safety.
Tourism minister Kandula Durgesh alerted the people of the Godavari area. He said that due to heavy discharges from the Kaleshwaram project, the Dowleswaram barrage can receive heavy floodwaters in the coming one or two days. He requested the people, in particular the youth, not to take selfies or photos of the nearest point of the Godavari river and canals. Pilgrims should not take bath in the canals or the river.
Meanwhile, due to overflowing of the Suddagadda reservoir, 2,500 hectares in 15 mandals were affected, and in particular the Gollaprolu and Pithapuram mandals, where the crop was submerged. Kakinada district agriculture officer Vijaya Kumar visited the Gollaprolu and Pithapuram areas and gave suggestions to the farmers.
In Konaseema district, agriculture officer Bosubabu said 4,200 hectares of paddy crop in 15 mandals faced submergence. If the situation remained so for another four days, these would be damaged.
However, East Godavari district agriculture officer said the rains are helping the upland farmers. In other mandals, 380 hectares of crop faced inundation. Eluru district agriculture officer Habib Basha said there would be no major damage to the crops in the district, though 1487 hectares of crop in 8 mandals faced inundation.
The West Godavari district is facing a major inundation problem. The district agriculture officer said 17750 hectares of crop in 20 mandals faced submergence.
Meanwhile, the flood waters surrounded the islet villages of P Gannavaram and Mummidivaram in Konaseema district and the Achanta mandal in West Godavari district. The people of these villages -- farmers, traders and school students – travelled in country boats as roads were flooded.