The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Tadipatri canal ryots stage dharna for water

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Dec 18, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Tadipatri canal ryots stage dharna for water

By Our Staff Reporter

ANANTAPUR, DEC. 17. Farmers of Tadipatri Branch Canal of Tungabhadra HLC system staged a dharna in front of the HLC localisation office here today alleging that engineers of the HLC were releasing water to Pulivendula Branch Canal beyond its share and denying the allocated water to TBC.

As many as 200 farmers from Garuguchintalapalli, Jangannapalli, Vemulapalli, Thimmapuram, Yerraguntapalli, Ravivenkatampalli, Thathagaripalli and Chinnampalli gathered in front of the HLC office and staged a day-long protest.

They alleged that one deputy executive engineer, Ravi, was neglecting the TBC ayacut and was releasing water to PBC even after completion of its allocated water.

The farmers explained that the engineers had earlier assured them that water to PBC would be stopped from December 14 midnight and it would be completely diverted to TBC.

Hopes belied

With the hope that they would get sufficient water after December 14 the TBC ayacut farmers cultivated irrigated dry crops like Bengal gram, coriander and sunflower in 10,000 acres. But, insufficient water was harming their standing crop raised with an expenditure of Rs. 3,000 per acre, they said.

On being questioned, the engineers were telling them that water was being released to PBC even after completion of its quota due to pressure from the Secretary of Irrigation. The TBC ayacut was assured water from December 14 midnight to January 5. As per the allocation, the TBC was yet to get to about 0.5 tmcft water, they claimed.

The farmers also complained that there was high unauthorised drawal of water between 17th and 20th distributaries due to the negligence of the engineers. The tapping of water had already impounded Thumpera and Thugumarri tanks and overflowing. The excess water was flowing waste in Kuthaleru and Nayanapalli streams, they pointed out.

They asserted that they would continue their agitation till they were given water, as their due quota was being denied for the last four days. Meanwhile, another section of TBC ayacut farmers were reportedly standing guard at Thumpera deep cut of HLC to prevent illegal release of water to PBC.

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