Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur   

Karnataka assures release of HLC quota: Minister

By Our Staff Reporter

ANANTAPUR, NOV. 25. Congress leaders of the district would take responsibility to ensure the allocated flow of water to the HLC from the Tungabhadra project, the Minister for Agriculture, N. Raghuveera Reddy, said here today.

Talking to newspersons along with the District Congress Committee president, A. Venkatarami Reddy, he said the Government was closely monitoring the crop condition and the availability of water in the HLC ayacut. He attributed the poor flow in the canal to increased illegal tapping by the Karnataka farmers in the upper reaches of the canal.

`Kharge informed'

He said that he spoke to the Irrigation Minister of Karnataka, Mallikarjun Kharge, over telephone on the issue today and the latter had promised to release the allocated water to the HLC as per the required indent. The issue would also be discussed at the Tungabhadra Board meeting scheduled for November 27 at Bangalore.

The Minister explained that the prorata allocation had been re-assessed at 19.5 tmcft to HLC against the initial assessment of 23.76 tmcft and another assessment of 21 tmcft.

Accordingly, the HLC was yet to get about 5.5 tmcft water, including 2 tmcft additional allocation (re-adjustment in the State allocation), he noted.

On the release of water to the PABR, the Minister said the Government was examining it. The reservoir would be given water if it was available after fulfilling the present needs.

CPI threatens stir

Meanwhile, in a separate press meet, the former CPI legislator, K. Ramakrishna, stated that the farmers under the HLC ayacut were suffering due to the neglect of the issue of inadequate water over the years. He blamed the State Government for not impounding PABR and MPR when there was water in the Tungabhadra reservoir.

Drawal of water in the canal was also delayed for about 20 days initially, he pointed out. He blamed the Government for its failure to prevent illegal drawal of water by Karnataka farmers.

He warned that the CPI would not keep quiet if water was not given to PABR this year and the party would launch an agitation.

He wondered what the ruling party leaders were doing when the KC Canal was being given un-allocated water from Srisailam reservoir, but the HLC was not getting its allocated quota from the Tungabhadra.

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