Deputy CM reviews water supply for kharif crop

Kakinada: Deputy Chief Minister Nimmakayala Chinarajappa directed the Irrigation department officials to take steps for uninterrupted supply of water for irrigation under the Pithapuram Branch Canal (PBC) system in the present kharif season.

Participating in the e-review meet organised at the R&B Guest House on the premises of East Godavari Collectorate on Friday, the Deputy Chief Minister laid out two different situations in the district as far as water supply for the first crop was concerned.

While flood situation emerged in the Konaseema area due to excess inflow of waters in the Godavari river, the farmers under the PBC canal in Pithapuram and Kakinada rural Assembly constituencies faced severe water crisis.

Chinarajappa pointed out improper maintenance of the PBC as a reason behind such situation. Systematic desilting and removal of weeds would only help in smooth flow of water through the canal, which had not taken place, he opined.

He also hailed the attempts of the Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who commenced the lift irrigation process to pump Godavari waters into Eluru reservoir through Pushkara Lift Irrigation Scheme to maintain steady water flow into the PBC canal for both drinking and irrigation purposes.