Plea to release Nagarjuna Sagar water to save crops under left canal

Farmers cultivating dry crops under the Nagarjuna Sagar Left Canal have urged the State government to secure the immediate release of water from Telangana to avert severe crop losses.

A delegation of the Nagarjuna Sagar Left Canal Project Committee met Water Resources Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu at his camp office in Vijayawada on Friday and submitted a memorandum highlighting the urgent situation.

Led by committee chairman Kota Veerababu and vice-chairman Alla Venkata Gopala Krishna Rao, the delegation said farmers in the 3rd zone, covering Nuzvid, Gannavaram, Mylavaram, Tiruvuru and Nandigama constituencies, had raised maize, chilli and other dry crops on nearly 80,000 acres this season, depending on Nagarjuna Sagar waters.

Though the Krishna River Management Board reportedly issued release orders from January, only about 3 TMC of the allotted 14 TMC reached the zone, they said, resulting in withering of crops and groundwater levels falling.

The committee demanded the release of 1,800 cusecs of water for 15 days up to the Andhra Pradesh border. It also sought full supply to branch canals, filling of vacant canal staff posts, and release of O&M grants. The Minister assured prompt coordination with Telangana officials.