Farmers Protest in Eluru, Seek Water for Krishna Delta Fields

Farmers under the Krishna Delta ayacut in Eluru district staged a protest on Monday, demanding that the state government release irrigation water for the kharif season through the Pattiseema Lift Irrigation Scheme.

Led by the AP Rythu Sangham, the farmers held a dharna outside the Eluru collectorate. They said paddy nurseries had been raised and transplantation begun in some areas. They urged the government to ensure uninterrupted water supply for cultivation.

Police prevented the protesters from entering the Collectorate premises and warned of legal action if they broke in. The farmers staged a protest at the main gate, leading to an altercation with the police.

A delegation of the Rythu Sangham submitted a memorandum to collector Vetri Selvi, seeking immediate release of irrigation water. They raised slogans against the “neglect” of the Krishna Delta.

The farmers alleged that the water department failed to tap alternative sources for water supply to the delta. They also sought supply through the Tadipudi Lift Irrigation Scheme.

Addressing the protesters, AP Rythu Sangham state associate secretary K Srinivas said there was scope to divert Godavari water through alternative routes to irrigate lands in Denduluru and Eluru constituencies.

The farmers leader asked why officials had not supplied water to about 10,000 acres through the Ponangi Puntha Canal in Eluru Rural mandal. He also rejected the argument that water could not be supplied to tail-end areas without modernisation of the Godavari main canal.

Srinivas said substantial inflows had reached the Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar reservoirs, while around 30tmc was available at Pulichintala and more than 10tmc had been diverted to the Krishna Barrage through the Pattiseema LIS.

Alleging that the Godavari water was being discharged into the sea while farmers were being denied irrigation, he criticised the government's agricultural planning.

Srinivas said the government had promised irrigation water for the Krishna delta from June 15 and supplied subsidised paddy seeds, but later advised farmers against cultivating paddy, citing the Super El Niño phenomenon.

He said farmers in the Krishna delta intended to cultivate paddy during the kharif season and shift to alternative crops during rabi.

Krishna delta farmers Vadavalli Rama Rao, Dasari Hanumantha Rao, B Lakshmana Rao, Dasari Satish and others participated in the protest.