The Hindu : Rotation supply for Krishna delta canals

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Sep 16, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

Rotation supply for Krishna delta canals

By Our Special Correspondent

Hyderabad Sept. 15. In the light of the agitation by Krishna delta farmers, the Government, with effect from today, introduced "rotation system of supply'' for canals of the delta to ensure the benefit even to tail-end areas.

Under the arrangement, which is the main feature of the working-table finalised by the Government in the light of complaints of short supply, both Eastern and Western main canals from Prakasam Barrage will flow continuously throughout the season but their branches will get the supply from them once in three days, alternately. One branch will be closed for three days to give more supply to the other for this duration and thus push the water to the tail-end areas. The Duggirala high level and such other branches will receive sufficient water now.

According to a senior irrigation official, the discharge for the delta was increased to 6,000 cusecs from this morning from 5,000 cusecs, with 1,600 cusecs going to the Western delta, about 4,000 cusecs to the Eastern delta and the balance to lift schemes in Guntur district.

At the same time, the Right Bank Canal of Nagarjunasagar was being given about 1,000 cusecs exclusively for meeting the drinking water needs en route.

The official said the Government was confident of making this much supply for the rest of the season because Srisailam was poised for getting 7,000 cusecs per day hereafter. Of this, 5,500 cusecs would be from power generation at Narayanpur and 1,500 cusecs out of "regeneration'' from the 3.2 lakh-acre Narayanpur ayacut.

The feedback received by the Government from the districts shows that there is 3.2 lakh acres of standing crop in Krishna delta, already transplanted, while nurseries have been raised for covering about 8 lakh more acres. With the supplies being ensured on a continuous basis, the official added, "there is no distress situation in the delta.'' Nurseries reached a crucial stage and they require wetting for a few more days. As such, farmers need not entertain any fears.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, through a communication to his Karnataka counterpart, S. M. Krisnna, has indicated September 20 as the "convenient date'' for discussions at Bangalore for release of 50 tmcft of Alamatti waters for meeting Andhra Pradesh shortages.

The Karnataka Government, in turn, has dropped a hint that in the event of such release, it may seek electricity compensation, say 4 million units for one tmcft of water released, totalling 178 million units.

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