HYDERABAD/NALGONDA: Here is some sad news for farmers. There will be no irrigation water supply to five districts falling under the ayacut of the Left Bank and Right Bank Canals of Nagarjuna Sagar during this Rabi season which commences in February next.The government is likely to release an advisory to farmers shortly asking them not to sow seeds for the Rabi season. A decision to this effect has been taken during a meeting of the state-level committee on water management held at Hyderabad.Of 21 lakh acres ayacut under Nagarjuna Sagar, about six lakh acres are cultivated during the Rabi season. About 80 TMC water is required to be released during the season for agriculture purposes. As per the decisions taken on Friday, water is being released to Nalgonda, Khammam and Krishna districts will be eventually withdrawn.However, water release to Krishna district will continue till February when Kharif season ends in certain parts of Krishna district.The water inflows into Nagarjuna Sagar and Srisailam reservoirs are not upto expectations due to scanty rainfall this year.Currently, the reservoir level in Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar projects is 867.5 feet and 566.5 feet respectively against the full reservoir level of 885 feet and 590 feet.“This was not the case during last year. As against 70 TMC of inflows received into Nagarjuna Sagar during November last year, we are currently receiving only 17 TMC which is hardly sufficient to operate hydel power projects.Hence, we will not be able to release water further after February,” said a senior official.Sources said that releasing of water from Nagarjuna Sagar was never stopped since 2004.The decision of the irrigation department officials comes as a major blow for farmers who have already lost the Kharif crop. Due to scanty rainfall and power cuts, the Kharif crop was damaged. Officials are also doubtful whether they would be able to release water for Krishna delta during Rabi if the situation continues.
Comments
0 comment