Minister Announces Water for Second Crop in Erstwhile Nellore District
Announcing the decision, Endowments minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy disclosed that water will be released from May 4 onwards, subject to government’s approval.
Nellore:In a major boost to farmers, the Irrigation Advisory Board (IAB) will release 49.760 TMC of water for the second crop sown over 4,47,322 acres in the undivided Nellore district.
Announcing the decision, Endowments minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy disclosed that water will be released from May 4 onwards, subject to government’s approval.
Chairing the IAB meeting at the Zilla Parishad office on Thursday, Ramanarayana Reddy explained that the water would be drawn from Somasila and Kandaleru reservoirs to meet the irrigation needs of Nellore district as well as parts of Tirupati district. He asked farmers to use “every drop judiciously” amid rising summer temperatures and competing demands.
As per the irrigation plan, 35.89 TMC of water will be supplied to irrigate 3.23 lakh acres in Nellore. 13.78 TMC from Kandaleru will cover 1.24 lakh acres. An additional 5 TMC has been earmarked for Chennai’s drinking water needs.
The minister pointed out that despite receiving 273 TMC inflows last year, nearly 133 TMC had been lost to the sea due to floods in Penna River. Currently, Somasila holds 58.17 TMC, of which 45 TMC must be carefully managed, he underlined.
MLAs across constituencies highlighted their key concerns during the IAB meeting—seeking completion of pending canal works, irrigation support to tail-end areas, adequate water to tanks and barrages, fair prices for crops, and timely wages to irrigation staff. They flagged issues like encroachments on canals, slow-paced projects, and need for better planning to meet both irrigation and drinking water needs.
Ramanarayana Reddy declared that the coalition government has revived the irrigation sector in Nellore district by taking up 4,557 works worth ₹393 crore. He pointed out that canal works under the “Jaladhara” initiative are progressing rapidly. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to provide irrigation water to every acre.
The minister said farmers’ organisations and water users’ associations will play a key role in ensuring efficient distribution of water during the crop season.
