No Rains In Godavari Delta For First Time In 70 Years: Minister
The minister said the impact of the Super El Niño phenomenon had affected water availability, forcing the government to divert water from Sileru for irrigation instead of power generation.
KAKINADA: Minister Nimmala Rama Naidu on Friday said the Godavari delta was witnessing an unprecedented rainfall deficit, with no significant rainfall recorded even 50 days into the monsoon, a situation not seen in the past 70 years.
The minister said the impact of the Super El Niño phenomenon had affected water availability, forcing the government to divert water from Sileru for irrigation instead of power generation. He directed officials to prevent water wastage and ensure optimum utilisation of every drop.
Rama Naidu, accompanied by labour minister Vasamsetti Subhash, Kothapeta MLA Bandaru Satyananda Rao and other public representatives, inspected canals from the Dowleswaram Barrage to Kothapeta, P. Gannavaram, Amalapuram and Mummidivaram constituencies.
He said the Godavari delta irrigation system was designed on the assumption of 70 per cent canal irrigation and 30 per cent rainfall, but the prolonged dry spell had created severe water shortages, particularly in Kakinada Rural, Amalapuram and Mummidivaram areas.
Reviewing the Kharif irrigation situation at the Amalapuram Collectorate, the minister directed officials to coordinate with the irrigation and revenue departments to ensure efficient water management, clear weeds, desilt canals and ensure irrigation water reached the tail-end areas.
He alleged that the previous government had neglected the maintenance of irrigation infrastructure, including damaged sluices at Lolla, and said the present government was committed to supplying irrigation water to every acre in the command area.
Rama Naidu also expressed concern that around 40,000 acres had been deprived of irrigation due to the construction of a concrete wall as part of a national highway project. He directed the district collector to take action against the contractor concerned.
He said a review had also been conducted on the Lolla sluice development works being taken up at a cost of ₹74.24 crore.
Despite the impact of Super El Nino, the minister expressed confidence that the government would ensure adequate irrigation water for the Kharif season through coordinated efforts by the irrigation, revenue and water users' departments.
Razole MLA G. Deva Vara Prasad and Mummidivaram MLA Datla Subba Raju were among those present.
