Anantapur: The Chirravati River started over flowing in Puttaparthi and Gorantla areas in Anantapur district after a decade long gap. The River had almost dried up for a long period with a number of check dams erected including Paragodu reservoir in Bagepalli taluk in Karnataka.
With heavy rains lashing the upstream areas of Chikaballapur district in Karnataka, the Paragodu reservoir was over flowing that resulted in inflows towards the district from the border. Chitravathi river that passes through International Spiritual Centre Puttaparthi has been in spate due to the constant inflows from neighbouring state. Heavy flows reached the tank Bukkapatnam, the biggest tank in Anantapur district.
Collector G. Veerapandian visited the river bed and alerted officials over possible inundation of low lying areas. Puttparthi MLA Palle Raghunath Reddy expressed gratitude to the rain god for the overflowing of the river after a long gap. Irrigation and Putta-parthi civic authorities were directed to clear the thorny bushes in the river to avoid wastage of water.
Meanwhile, the Pennar river was also witnessing heavy flows in Tadipathri and connecting areas due to continuous rains for the past one week.
Collector G. Veerapandian ordered open eight gates of Yogivemana project in Kadiri revenue division in view of the constant flows from upstream area. The district authorities expected around 13.50 tmc ft of rain water stored in tanks and minor irrigation structures.
“More than 761 tanks were over flowing with capacity of 9.50 tmc ft while 4 tmc ft is present in one lakh farm ponds and check dams due to heavy rains in the district,” Mr Veerapandian said.
Total of 245 kms long R&B roads and 28 culverts were damaged during Monday rainfall.
Meanwhile Tadipathri police rescued three women labourers who stranded in the Pennar river near Tadipathri.
The women, K. Padmavathi, Padma and B. Lakshmi Devi of Tadipathri had gone to attend the plantations in the orchard on the other end of the river bed.
The heavy flows, however, were seen after the right canal of Chagallu reseroiver breached and the water was diverted into Pennar.
While returning, the women got stranded in the middle of the river. Police, SDRF and others rushed to the spot and rescued them by using ropes.
Meanwhile, a tense situation prevailed at the Karntaka borders of Agali and Sira areas on Tuesday after the Karnataka farmers resisted to free flow of water towards Irigepalli in Agali mandal.
A breach occurred for the channel bund at Irrigapalli resulting flows towards Karnataka fields. A group of farmers from Agali mandal tried to fill the breach but farmers from Sira area resisted.
Police from the two states rushed to the spot and sent back protestors. A police picket is posted in the view of the tension.
