Farmers protest for water

Ongole: The farmers in Prakasam district who cultivate under the Nagarjuna Sagar Project Right Canal staged protests at various places on Thursday, demanding that the government ensure water in the canal, reach up to the last farm for irrigation purposes. They opposed the use of water by the power plants while crops in farms are withering out.

The government released water into Addanki Branch Canal about a week ago through the Nagarjuna Sagar Project. Due to the lenience of the irrigation department officials, the water flow is diverted illegally to others.

The last fields is left completely dependent on the Sagar water, and are not getting even a part of the expected water. On the other hand, the readings being recorded at two places in the canal, which should show almost the same reading, are showing different readings. The farmers alleged that the irrigation department officials were supplying water to the power plants by head-up method.

Vexed by the officials, the farmers took to the roads demanding water for their withering crops. Farmers in Talluru mandal also staged protest on the new bypass road of Chimakurthy beside the Nagarjuna Sagar Project Canal. The farmers from Santamaguluru mandal staged a protest at the Puttavaripalem junction on the Addanki-Narkatpalli highway. Former MLA and YSRCP leader Bachina Chenchugaratayya and other farmers demanded that the government see that the water reaches their farms.