Water Allocation Sparks Row in Nellore District; Farmers and Oppn Express Discontent

Tirupati: Amid the growing demands from farmers' associations, the AP government on Tuesday announced the allocation of water for cultivation in 2 lakh to 2.2 lakh acres under the Somasila and Kandaleru ayacuts in Nellore district for the Rabi season.

The decision was made during the district irrigation advisory board (IAB) meeting and announced by agriculture minister Kakani Govardhan Reddy. The meeting was chaired by Nellore collector Hari Narayanan. In order to irrigate the first crop, water would be allocated to 2.2 lakh acres under the Penna Delta. This is aside from the possibility of supplying water to non-delta areas, based on availability, the minister said.

Expressing dissatisfaction over the IAB decisions, MLAs Anam Ramnarayana Reddy and Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy walked out of the meeting. Simultaneously, farmers' association leaders and Telugu Desam leaders staged a protest in front of the new Zilla Parishad office in Nellore and attempted to enter the premises. The police foiled this and shifted them to the IV Town police station.

The announcement also drew protest from YSRC rebel MLA Anam Ramnarayana. He blamed the officials for release of water into the sea from River Penna. He expressed dissatisfaction over the IAB meeting, and said the allocation of only 5 tmc of water was being considered.

"Farmers are facing trouble due to the failure of the government to have a proper plan for the utilisation of water from available sources. Silt in canals is one reason for losses in the supply of irrigation water. Officials failed to desilt the canals for the past three years," he said.

He questioned the release of nearly 20 tmc ft of water from the Penna river into the sea. In response, the agriculture minister stated that IAB has decided to supply water for 2.25 lakh acres under the Pennar delta area. He pointed to the challenges posed by the 51 per cent deficit in rainfall this season.

"We have been assessing the availability of water in all reservoirs and tanks in the district and would release water for irrigation activities. We have received grievances from farmers' associations. The state government is committed to the welfare of farmers," said minister Kakani.

TD politburo member Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy consoled the farmer association leaders at the station and alleged that the state government failed to follow proper water management practices in the district. The government also failed to desilt the canals. For the first time in the district's history, the Penna delta is facing a water supply issue, he said.