45,000 acres to get water for Rabi crops in Kurnool: Minister

Kurnool:Industries minister T.G. Bharath said water will be supplied to 45,000 acres for Rabi crops under the Tungabhadra Lower Canal from December 10 to the end of March. This decision was made during the irrigation advisory board meeting held in Kurnool on Tuesday.

He instructed officials to prioritise addressing drinking water issues. Irrigation officials informed the minister about thefts involving oil and copper worth ₹2.60 crore from the Guru Raghavendra Project lift irrigation scheme, adding that proposals had been sent to the government to restore the motors to working condition.

District collector P. Ranjit Basha emphasised the need for immediate repairs to minor water scheme issues using ZP and mandal parishad funds. He added that major problems should be addressed through government-sanctioned proposals.

Panyam MLA Gowru Charitha Reddy suggested passing a resolution to establish the Krishna River Management Board in Kurnool district while Adoni MLA V. Parthasarathy urged measures to prevent drinking water shortages in Adoni during the summer.

Similarly, Aluru MLA B. Virupakshi has requested for extending water supply to crops under the Lower Canal until April 15 and repairing tanks in Devanakonda mandal.

Minister Bharath stated that 10 TMC of water would be allocated specifically for Kurnool district as part of the Handri-Neeva Sujala Sravanthi project expansion.

He directed officials to prepare a comprehensive plan involving Adoni sub-collector, Kurnool and Pathikonda RDOs, district panchayat officer and zilla parishad CEO to tackle summer water shortages.

He said resolutions passed in the meeting for release of water under the Gajuladinne project from November 30 and establishment of the Krishna River Management Board office in Kurnool.

MLC Dr C. Madhusudhan, Adoni sub-collector Maurya Bharadwaj and officials from departments concerned participated in the meeting.