Anantapur: Demand to divert surplus water to drought areas

ANANTAPUR: There has been a demand from rain-deficit areas of Rayalaseema to fill irrigation and drinking water tanks of Rayalaseema, by diverting surplus flood water from Krishna and Tungabhadra sources, instead of discharging it into the sea.

Further, leaders and Rayalaseema-based organisations have sought relaxation, following orders against lift irrigation projects such as Pattiseema by the Centre though they help to usher tail-end areas in the region.

Though the recent heavy floods hit several regions of Karnataka and few areas of Kurnool and other coastal areas, several parts of Rayalaseema are in rain deficit situation and are unable to get drinking water everyday.

Even during rainy season, around 200 habitations are facing problem.

Kurnool Municipal Corporation, Madakasira, Rayadurgam and Kadiri face drinking water problem due to lack of perennial sources.

Even as Tungabhadra river flows through Kurnool and Pennar Kumudwathi, Chitravati and Hagari rivers exist  in the region, they get dried up due to rain deficit and drought conditions existing for several decades. “A separate canal from Gollapalli reservoir of HNSS main canal towards Madakasira can only help to meet centuries-old problem,” Telugu Desam MLC Gundumala Thippeswany said.

He submitted a representation to collector S. Satyanarayana seeking a fresh proposal for a separate canal as Hindupur MLA Nandamuri Balakrishna forcibly diverted it towards Hindupur.

Posts from Rayalaseema-based organisations and people went viral on social media demanding for justice.  

“Even as hundreds of villages have been facing drought since several decades,  at least 10 lakh cusecs of water is being discharged into sea without any use,”  Subrahmanyam, an irrigation analyst, observed.

Rayalaseema Intellectuals Forum convener Dr Geyanand urged the Centre to initiate steps to clear hurdles.