Andhra Techie desilts Nellore canal

Nellore: Moved by the plight of farmers whose standing crops are withering away due to heavy silt, including garbage, deposited at the mouth of Krishnapatnam canal, software professional Pothireddy Chandrasekhar Reddy hired earth-moving machines with his own money to take up the desilting operation. His move has ensured the free flow of water in the area.

As many as 12,000 acres of agricultural land located in TP Gudur and Muthukuru mandals are dependent on the canal for irrigation.

The canal is a  branch canal to the Surveypalli channel and it starts from Ramalingapuram centre in Nellore.

The water flow had almost dried up on the stretch from its starting point to Narayana General Hospital in Muthukuru road due to plastic materials and garbage dumped in it by people living along the canal.

Though the irrigation department had prepared estimations for desilting works, the proposal was stalled for want of sanction from the government.

Mr Reddy volunteered to carry out the work after farmers of his village apprised him of the situation when he visited them a couple of days back.

Mr Reddy is a native of Pidathapoluru village in Muthukuru mandal of SPSR Nellore district, and resides in Hyderabad. He worked for over 10 years in the United States as a software engineer and was  the CEO of a company called Navayuga Infotech.

“Telugu Desam senior leader Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy gave a green signal to my proposal when I brought the issue to his notice. Being a native of this area, I feel it is my responsibility,” Mr Reddy said when contacted.

A farmer, Venku Reddy of Pidatapoluru, said the desilting exercise will cost more than '5 lakh.