Nimmala Calls For Scientific Use of Water Amid El Nino Concerns

VIJAYAWADA: Water resources minister Nimmala Ramanaidu on Saturday directed officials to ensure optimum utilisation of every drop of water in a scientific manner to meet irrigation and drinking water requirements in the Godavari and Krishna delta regions.

During a teleconference with chief engineers and superintending engineers of the Godavari and Krishna delta systems, the minister stressed the need for coordinated efforts between the water resources and revenue departments to safeguard farmers' interests in view of the water shortage caused by El Nino conditions. He also announced the cancellation of leave for all departmental officers until further orders.

Ramanaidu said Sileru water was being utilised to support irrigation in the Godavari delta. He directed officials to use water from the Pushkar canal and Yeleru reservoir to meet drinking water needs and advised farmers in upland areas to cultivate crops requiring less water.

He said water from the Pushkar canal and Yeleru should be utilised to provide drinking water to nearly 55 lakh people in East Godavari, Kakinada and Visakhapatnam districts while ensuring irrigation for farmers in the Godavari delta command area.

The minister directed officials to remove weeds from the Godavari central, eastern and western canals to facilitate the free flow of water and continue operation and maintenance works throughout the Kharif season.

He also instructed officials to prevent misuse of water released through the Polavaram Right main canal towards the Krishna delta.

Ramanaidu cautioned that excessive use of water for paddy cultivation in the Krishna delta could affect storage in the Nagarjuna Sagar reservoir and lead to crop losses if inflows remain poor. He said that if the reservoir does not receive adequate inflows this season, water from the Pulichintala and Pattiseema projects may need to be conserved for use until June 2027.