Release of water for irrigation sought

Nellore: Legislators of the opposition and members of the Zilla Parishad demanded the Ministers Chandramohan Reddy and Narayana to release water immediately for irrigation activity for protecting standing crops during Rabi season.

ZP general body meeting held at the new ZP conference hall here on Thursday. ZP Chairman Bommireddy Raghavendra Reddy presided over the meeting.

Addressing the meeting, Agriculture Minister Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy said that they were giving priority for drinking water in the district. The deficit rainfall had decreased from 61 per cent to 53 per cent due to some rains recently and there are no inflows to Somasila reservoir due to insufficient rains in the catchment areas, said the Minister.

“We have allocated 15 tmcft of water to Kandaleru for Chennai, Tirupati, Venkatagiri, Gudur and also Sullurpeta for drinking water purposes,” said Somireddy. He also said they had announced all 46 mandals as drought-hit in the district. Irrigation Advisory Board (IAB) meeting had earlier decided to release water for only 3.2 lakh acres during this Rabi season, said Chandramohan Reddy.

He also explained that farmers in the district have cultivated in around 7 lakh acres in 2017 and 9 lakh acres in 2016. He also said that they had invited tenders for drinking water projects in the district with Rs 9,000 crore. Tender process would be held on December 14 for drinking water projects in the district with Rs 1,200 crore, informed the Minister.

Somireddy also said that they are going to provide infrastructure to government schools across the district with Rs 340 crore. He explained that they would complete Somasila High Level Canal, Penna and Sangam barrages within short period.