Protect ground water reserves, officials told

Vijayawada: The Krishna District Additional Joint Collector, N Ramesh Kumar, has called upon officials to protect ground water reserves in the district. Speaking to the district officials on ground water conservation and protection of irrigation tanks in the district on Saturday, Ramesh Kumar asked the officials to clear encroachments on war footing. He said that climatic conditions were changing fast and rainfall was declining due to climatic changes. In this background, it is necessary for everyone to conserve every drop of water, he said. The Additional Joint Collector said that some of the villages in mandals like Agiripalli, Nuzvid, Musunuru, A Konduru and Bapulapadu were over exploiting ground water using bore wells for agriculture. He stressed the need to conserve rain water and asked the officials to protect irrigation tanks. He directed the officials to see that silt is removed from the tanks and ensure more rain water is harvested and stored. He also asked them to clear encroachments on irrigation tanks and thus increase ground water reserves. Nuzvid legislator Chinnam Ramakotaiah who was present at the meeting complained against encroachments of irrigation tank beds, canal banks and forest lands. He asked the officials to clear the encroachments and help conserve rain water. The Ground Water Department Deputy Director, A Varaprasada Rao, Central Ground Water Board scientist P Bhaskar and Executive Engineer Aruna and others were present.