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Tail end lands in EG mandals face water shortage
Though there is plenty of water in the Godavari and thousands of cusecs are being released every day in to the Bay of Bengal, there is water shortage in the tail-end lands of Pithapuram Branch Canal (PBC) in Karapa mandal besides Konaseema and Gollaprolu mandals. Negligence of the canal system for years is attributed to be the main reason for the situation.
Kakinada: Though there is plenty of water in the Godavari and thousands of cusecs are being released every day in to the Bay of Bengal, there is water shortage in the tail-end lands of Pithapuram Branch Canal (PBC) in Karapa mandal besides Konaseema and Gollaprolu mandals. Negligence of the canal system for years is attributed to be the main reason for the situation.
According to sources, 1.92 lakh hectares has been provided irrigation water out of 2.22 lakh hectares, in both delta and upland areas in the district, in the present crop season. Joint director of Agriculture KVS Prasad said there was shortage of water for irrigation for nearly 10,000 acres in tail-end lands under PBC in Gollaprolu mandal besides Karapa mandal and Konaseema, to the tune of 10,000 acres.
He said measures were being initiated by the authorities to supply water to the tail-end lands by removing weeds, encroachments, taking up desilting works and added that the rains, late on Tuesday night across the district are compensating for the deficit, to a certain extent.
Former Kakinada rural MLA and East Godavari YSRC district unit president Kurasala Kannababu said that he had noticed shortage of water for irrigation in G Bhavavaram, Siripuram, Peddapurappadu, Yendamuru and surrounding villages for nearly 2,200 acres, during his visit to Karapa Mandal on Tuesday.
He alleged that the shortage was due to complete negligence of canal system and lack of efforts to modernise the same. Pithapuram MLA, SVSN Varma said that water shortage has been noticed in about 3,000 acres under PBC canal in Gollaprolu and Chebrolu mandals.
Irrigation authorities have been making efforts on a war-footing to supply water by raising the water levels at Samaria Kota from the present four-and-half feet to six-and- a-half feet. Also, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has sanctioned Rs 20 crore for PBC canal modernisation works which will be taken up next summer, said the MLA.
AP Water Users Association former general secretary Kovvuri Trinadh Reddy said the daily requirement of irrigation water in the district was 10,000 tmc on an average whereas the daily inflow was nearly 14, 500 tmc. Excess water to the extent of 39,000 cusecs was being released into the sea and said the failure of authorities to maintain a proper canal system was the main reason for the wastage.
