Warabandi To Ensure Irrigation Water Reaches Kavali Canal Tail-end

NELLORE: The district administration has decided to strictly implement the Warabandi system on the Kavali Canal to ensure equitable distribution of irrigation water, particularly to tail-end ayacut farmers.

The decision was taken at a review meeting chaired by district collector Himanshu Shukla on Monday.

Kavali MLA Dagumati Venkata Krishna Reddy said committees would be constituted to regulate water usage. Farmers using pump motors will be permitted to draw water for three days a week, while electricity supply to unauthorised motors will be disconnected during the remaining four days to ensure adequate flow to tail-end areas.

The MLA said sufficient water was available in the Somasila reservoir and expressed confidence that additional inflows from the Srisailam reservoir would improve availability further. He urged farmers not to panic over water supply.

Udayagiri MLA Kakarla Suresh said the damaged siphon at the 12th kilometre of the Kavali Canal was affecting irrigation in tail-end areas. He directed officials to reconstruct the siphon using modern technology and repair damaged canal gates and other infrastructure.

Collector Himanshu Shukla instructed officials of the Irrigation, Revenue, Police and Electricity departments to coordinate implementation of the warabandi system and prepare a canal-wise water release schedule up to September 15.

He said the government was prepared to provide the required funds for repairs and modernisation of the Kavali Canal. The repair works will begin after water supply through the canal is stopped and are expected to be completed by November 30.