Vijayawada: Irrigation and agricultural advisory boards of Krishna and NTR district have at a joint meeting passed a resolution that due to shortage, no water will be released into canals for irrigating paddy during the Rabi season.
They advised farmers of the two districts to cultivate alternative crops like green gram, black gram, red gram and mirchi, which require application of less water, unlike paddy.
NTR district collector Dilli Rao said state government is ready to supply seeds for alternate crops on a subsidised basis through Dr. YSR Rythu Bharosa Kendras.
Krishna district collector Raja Babu said Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) has allocated 151.20 TMC of water for Rabi season. Of this, Krishna delta has already used 101.32 TMC of water. The remaining water will be released only for drinking purposes.
The Krishna collector warned that stringent action will be taken against those who violate the law. He said the district administration is all set to support farmers in cultivating alternative crops.
Based on rainfall data, state government has declared Tiruvuru and Gampalagudem mandals in NTR district as drought-hit. Further, the NTR district administration has sent proposals to the centre through state government to announce Vissannapet, A. Konduru, Nandigama, Veerulapadu, Reddigudem, Penuganchiprolu and G. Konduru as drought-hit based on rainfall data as on October 1.
