The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Mareppa leads farmers' team to Tungabhadra board

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 18, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Mareppa leads farmers' team to Tungabhadra board

By Our Staff Correspondent

BELLARY, AUG. 17. A team of elected representatives and leaders of farmers from Andhra Pradesh has urged the Tungabhadra Board to take steps to release the State's share of water through the low-level canal (LLC) of the Tungabhadra Dam.

The team headed by the Irrigation Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Mareppa, visited the command areas of the LLC on Monday and held a meeting with the officials of the board and the Deputy Commissioner.

K.C. Kondaiah, MLC, and N. Suryanarayan Reddy, Kurgodu MLA, attended the meeting. The Kurnool District Collector was also present.

Addressing presspersons after the meeting, Mr. Mareppa said the main aim of the team's visit was to seek release of Andhra Pradesh's share of water. Though Andhra Pradesh was entitled to 700 cusecs of water, it had been getting only between 350 and 400 cusecs despite the release of 1,800 cusecs into the LLC.

Dam full

"The dam is full and overflowing and 1,800 cusecs is being released into the LLC. Yet, we are getting less than the quota allocated to us. To ascertain the reasons for Andhra Pradesh not getting its share of water, we are here," he added.

Mr. Mareppa made it clear that the team had visited Karnataka to request the authorities to release water to help drought-hit farmers of the State.

When his attention was drawn to the "failure" of the Andhra Pradesh Government to release funds for strengthening and maintenance of canals, Mr. Mareppa blamed the previous Telugu Desam Party Government for not taking steps in this regard. "We will ensure that the Congress-led coalition Government will release funds for the purpose. By next year, steps will be taken to strengthen the canals,'' he said. The High Level Canal and the Low Level Canal on the right bank of the Tungabhadra Dam irrigate parts of Hospet, Sirguppa and Bellary in Karnataka and some places in Andhra Pradesh.

Illegal water drawing

Chennakeshav Reddy, Yemmiganur MLA, alleged that water was being drawn illegally from the canals before it entered Andhra Pradesh and this was one of the reasons for his State not getting its full share. "During our surprise visit to the command areas here, we saw water being drawn illegally from the canals. We met the officials concerned and urged them to prevent it," he added.

Mr. Kondaiah and Mr. Suryanarayan Reddy said steps would be taken to ensure the release of Andhra Pradesh's share of water.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh