Former minister Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy alleges misuse of Somasila water

Tirupati: Former minister Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy has accused state agriculture minister Kakani Govardhan Reddy and irrigation department officials of allegedly misusing a staggering 30 TMC feet of water from Somasila project under the pretext of irrigating 2.85 lakh acres.

Addressing media at NTR Bhavan in Nellore on Friday, he said before the start of the season, Irrigation Advisory Board had decided to provide water for the second crop over 2.85 lakh acres.

Chandramohan Reddy claimed that contrary to agriculture department's statement, which indicated cultivation of 97,000 acres during the second crop season, irrigation department has reported that water has been supplied to 3.11 lakh acres.

"In fact, one lakh acres can be cultivated with 10 TMC feet water. Going by reports of the irrigation department, they released 40 TMC feet from April 1 to the end of August from Somasila project, as against the required 10 TMC feet. This means 30 TMC feet of water has been wasted," Somireddy charged.

The former agriculture minister, quoting reports from agriculture and irrigation departments, pointed out that nearly 15 TMC feet of water had been wasted even during the first crop season.

Somireddy said such criminal wastage of water can be attributed to government's failure to properly de-silt the canals, despite spending ₹1,500 crore from flood damage repairs, operation and maintenance funds, apart from NREGS and regular funds.

The former minister said he will write to Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, urging him to take swift action against the agriculture minister and irrigation officials responsible for the misuse of water, particularly considering the dwindling reserves in the Somasila project. He underlined that likewise, a significant quantity of water from Kandaleru dam has also been wasted due to negligence of officials.