Water from Kinnerasani won’t be released for rabi cultivation

Khammam: Stressing that drinking water requirements should receive priority, Agriculture Minister Tummala directed officials not to release water from the Kinnerasani reservoir for rabi cultivation. “It could instead be used, if necessary, to meet drinking water needs under Mission Bhagiratha,” he said.

At a review meeting with officials from Khammam and Bhadradri Kothagudem districts on Tuesday, the minister stressed water conservation, promotion of alternative crops, and uninterrupted drinking water supply until July 2027. He asked officials to create widespread awareness about declining groundwater levels and communicate information on water availability through the media.

He also instructed officials to retain water in the Nagarjuna Sagar command area canals up to Palair and maximise storage in the Sitarama project canal by operating three pump houses. “The Palair reservoir should be managed efficiently to meet drinking water requirements across three districts,” he said.

Officials said steps were being taken to construct a sandbag barrier near the Dummugudem tail pond to store around 1 TMC of water. Tummala called for contingency plans to maintain drinking water supplies until July 2027, repair leaking pipelines and restore defunct borewells and old village drinking water schemes wherever feasible. He also directed officials to undertake water conservation works, including farm ponds and groundwater recharge pits, under the VB-G RAM G scheme.

He directed officials to protect the standing kharif crop and advise farmers against paddy cultivation during the upcoming rabi season in view of anticipated water shortages amid El Niño-related drought concerns. Tummala said farmers should avoid taking up a second crop without assured irrigation and opt for pulses, millets, vegetables and other less water-intensive crops.

“The Agriculture Department was directed to ensure advance availability of seeds and conduct field-level awareness programmes. Special measures should be taken to protect horticultural crops and expedite drip irrigation facilities,” he said.

The minister asked officials to monitor cotton and paddy procurement, ensure remunerative prices for farmers and prevent black marketing and trader syndicates. He also stressed judicious power consumption, advance communication of agricultural power supply schedules and measures to prevent water and electricity wastage.

Meanwhile, Khammam Collector TS Divakara said ten mandals in the district were facing severe drought conditions and seven moderate drought while groundwater levels had declined by around two metres compared with the previous year.

Bhadradri Kothagudem Collector Ankit said groundwater levels in the district had fallen by around 3.5 m. The administration had encouraged alternative crops instead of paddy on around 40,000 acres during the kharif season and was taking measures to prevent further groundwater depletion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

PV Satyanarayana

PV Satyanarayana[email protected]

P.V.Satyanarayana is a journalist with an experience of 20years. PV Satyanarayans has completed his post-graduation in MSc (Mathematics) from Allahabad University. Interested in writing *Feature Stories and political stories Hobbies: Reading Newspapers and listening to songs.

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