Nellore: Leaders seek water on par with delta area

Nellore: Opposition leaders from upland areas are up in arms against TD leaders especially minister P. Narayana for allegedly instructing to release water from Kanigiri and Sarveypalli reservoirs to raise nurseries only in the delta area.

Accusing the TD leaders for differentiating farmers of upland and delta areas, the leaders including ZP Chairman B. Raghavendra Reddy, legislators Mekapati Gowtham Reddy, Ramireddy Pratap Reddy and former legislator Mekapati Chandrasekhar Reddy demanded release of water from Somasila simultaneously for both areas as well as to the ayacut under Kandaleru dam.

They attributed the shortage of water for the first crop to utilising 20 tmc.ft from Somasila for the second crop this year without bothering about dwindling water reserves. Speaking to mediapersons at the residence of Nellore MP Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy here on Thursday, ZP Chairman Raghavendra Reddy questioned the rationale behind ignoring upland farmers when 37 tmc ft of water was available in Somasila.

Reminding that 18 tmc.ft is earmarked for upland areas under south feeder, north feeder and Kavali canals, he demanded to release water for all these canals to enable the farmers raise nurseries similar to their counterparts in delta.

Atmakur legislator Mekapati Gowtham Reddy said the reports on water release and the ruling party's failure to hold Irrigation Advisory Board meeting has been disturbing the farming community in upland areas. He urged the government to treat all the farmers without any bias whether they are in delta or non-delta.

Expressing concern over declining water resources and increase in the cultivation area, he underlined the need for perfect planning and water management practices to prevent unrest among the farmers.

Kavali MLA Ramireddy Pratapkumar Reddy was critical of the minister P. Narayana for paying attention to Amaravati and Singapore ignoring Nellore district. He squarely blamed the ruling party leaders for drying up of the summer storage tank in Kavali stressing that they ignored his pleas for release of water from Somasila with an eye on revenue from transporting water through tankers.

Former Udayagiri MLA  Mekapati Chandrasekhar Reddy advised the TD bigwigs to hand over the water management issue to irrigation officials.