Make optimum use of Godavari water: Deputy CM

Warangal: Deputy Chief Minister K Srihari has directed the irrigation officials to chalk out a micro-level plan of action to make optimum use of River Godavari waters.Efforts should be made to fill up maximum number of tanks in the district with Godavari waters. In view of copious rains, lifting of water from Devadula lift irrigation project began on July 1. Since lifting water into the reservoirs was a costly affair, the waters lifted from the river should properly be used, he said.

Srihari chaired a review meeting with irrigation and agriculture officials here on Wednesday.He wanted the irrigation officials to explore feasibility of filling Ramappa Lake through second phase of the Devadula project.

Steps to supply water to tail-end areas under the Mallur tank ayacut by repairing canals has to be taken, he said adding that some farmers were complaining of lack of supply of water to their fields.

The officials informed that 1530 mcft water was available against the total capacity of 3386 mcft in Pakhal Lake while in Laknavaram Lake the water level reached to full tank level (FTL) with 2135 MCFT.

In Mallur tank, 318 mcft water was available against the total capacity of 365 mcft. However, in Ramappa 250 mcft water was available against the full tank capacity of 2912 mcft. Water could be released to ayacut of Mallur, Laknavaram and Pakhal Lakes as they had received sufficient inflows during the season.

The Deputy CM has asked the officials to ensure measures to supply water in a proper manner during kharif season. The State government has decided to release Rs 2,000 crores towards third phase of crop loan waiver.

He appreciated agriculture officials for reducing area under cotton cultivation. The normal area of cotton in the district was 2.52 lakhs hectares and this time the crop was sown in only 1.84 lakh hectares. Different crops were sown in 3.74 lakh hectares against the normal area of 4.97 lakh hectares.