TD Leaders Detained as Farmers Block NH for Release of Water to Chilli Fields

Anantapur: A tense situation prevailed at Mustur village in Uravakonda Mandal on Tuesday as chilli farmers staged a road blockade on the NH between Bellary and Anantapur demanding the release of water from the Handri Neeva Sujala Shravanthi main canal to the Guntakal branch canal to save standing crops.

The farmers said the chilli crop raised on more than 34,000 acres was at its final stage of harvest but there was a serious water shortage. About Rs 400 crore worth of crops could be affected by the drought-like conditions.

TD MLA Payyavula Kesav extended his party’s support to the farmers and joined the protest at Mustur. He urged the government to release water and save the crops.

Kesav said, “Although enough water is available with the HNSS project, the irrigation authorities are ignoring the farmers’ plea for the release of water to the GB Canal to save their crops at the final stage of harvest.

A police team led by Guntakal DSP Narasingappa arrived on the scene and directed the protestors to disperse and clear the road for traffic. The police detained the MLA and other leaders and shifted them to the Kanekal police station.

Meanwhile, YSRC leaders blamed the TD leaders led by a gram panchayat president for their “resistance” to the release of water to GBC, with the “motto of getting water only for their fields.”