Drought Conditions Prevalent In Some Areas of Godavari Districts

No sufficient water is flowing through Yeleru, Pampa and Tandava rivers. There are no rains in upland areas. Most farmers fear they may have to forego the Rabi crop.

In Kakinada district, transplantation has been completed over 60,000 hectares, while nearly 30,000 hectares within the Tandava, Pampa and Yeleru reservoir command area are yet to see planting of crops. Farmers have already prepared their nurseries. They are waiting for rains in upland areas and for irrigation water under the various reservoirs’ ayacuts.

According to farmer Ch. Chandra Rao of Thondangi mandal, farmers of Pithapuram, Tuni, Gollaprolu, Thondangi and other areas have planned to grow super fine rice varieties. He shared that if transplantation is over quickly, there will be no damage to the crops. However, if it is delayed, crops could be damaged, because September and October months generally witness cyclones.

Chandra Rao has requested authorities to take measures and fill the area’s reservoirs from upstream dams and release the water as early as possible, so that harvesting of crops could be completed earlier.

Kakinada district Agriculture joint director N. Vijay Kumar said there is need for rains in some of the areas. He indicated that irrigation authorities are making efforts to lift water from various lift irrigation schemes.

In East Godavari district, there is no water in Musurumilli Reservoir. This has hit cultivation in Korukonda mandal. Recently, however, irrigation officials released water from Venkatanagaram lift irrigation scheme. But only a section of farmers has been able to breathe easy.

District Agriculture joint director N. Madhava Rao said transplantation has been completed over nearly 64,000 hectares out of 74,000 hectares. He maintained that there has not been much difficulties in carrying out transplantation in East Godavari areas, as there are 40,000 borewells in the region. Due to previous rains, groundwater levels had increased.