No water release, paddy farms hit

Nellore: The farming community in Pennar delta is up in arms against the government for dilly dallying over the release of water from Somasila for the first crop despite availability of 36 tmc ft in the project. Farmers are angry because they raised nurseries by tapping the groundwater (filter points) in several parts of Pennar delta banking on the water reserves in Somasila. Officials say only up to 25 tmc ft of water is available for farming as the dead storage level is 10 tmc and they have to keep water for drinking for Nellore city.

“At least 1 tmc ft is required for paddy cultivation on 10,000 acres with good water management. We need at least 52 tmc ft in addition to dead storage and other needs to supply water for 5.21 lakh acres including the unauthorised area under Pennar delta,” a senior irrigation official said.  According to officials, the situation is precarious with respect to medium, minor and panchayat raj tanks which should provide irrigation to 2.2 lakh acres.

The situation is no different with respect to tanks depending on the Kavali and Kanupuru canals and the South and North feeders. The 2,40,975 acres under Kandaleru reservoir needs at least 30 tmc ft against the 22 tmc.ft for irrigation and drinking water needs of Chennai, Tirupati and Srikalahasti. As of now 500 cusecs is being released to Chennai and officials are contemplating supplying around 3 tmc ft before this month-end.

Sarvepalli MLA K. Govardhan Reddy demanded that the government obtain water from Srisailam to Somasila and release it for first crop without delay. Rebuking the TD leaders for their contradictory statements over water release, he said they cannot dictate terms to the farmers.