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Officials’ stance on Sagar water release dashes ryots’ hopes
Although officials have been announcing that water from the canal would be released in eight phases for 64 days from December 1, their decision of giving the supply for only tail-end (aruthadi) crops has caused severe anxiety among the farmers, who have been denied the facility in the Rabi for the third time in a row.
Nalgonda: The Nagarjunsagar Left Bank Canal has once again dashed the hopes of the ayacut farmers, who have been hit by continuous drought.
Although officials have been announcing that water from the canal would be released in eight phases for 64 days from December 1, their decision of giving the supply for only tail-end (aruthadi) crops has caused severe anxiety among the farmers, who have been denied the facility in the Rabi for the third time in a row.
The ayacut area comprises 3,68,324 acres in the districts of Nalgonda (153,542), Suryapet (207,159) and Khammam (7,623). With the last three years seeing no encouraging water levels in the canal, the ryots had hoped that they would get good supply following the abundant rains during the last season. They had even taken up cultivation with hope. However, their hopes have been dashed with the officials’ announcement.
Nagarjunasagar reservoir has a level of 527 ft, including 30.68 tmcft required for use. Srisailam has 873 ft, including 101 tmcft, both put together 132 tmcft, which is to be shared by the Telugu States. If water is to be released for this Rabi season, up to the first zone 40 tmcft would be sufficient. But with officials maintaining that the water supply would be made available up to the Miryalguda Circle, the farmers are in a dilemma.
The officials have come to the decision as the Nagarjunasagar reservoir water was insufficient to meet to the needs of ayacut cultivation in the three districts. Since there is no possibility of providing full water, they have announced the supply only to the tail-end (aruthadi pantalu) crops. But, now they say that even that would be difficult.
A fresh decision, they said, could be taken only after a high-level review. On their part, the farmers say that now it was difficult to take up the Rabi cultivation. They want the government to take a firm decision to protect their interests. The final decision on the issue has to be taken by the Krishna River Management Board.
