RAICHUR: The district administration has decided to continue to draw water from the balancing reservoir of the Tungabhadra left bank canal (TLBC) near here till the harvesting of the standing kharif crops in the command areas of the canal in Raichur taluk and parts of Manvi.

It has also decided to improve the storage level at the reservoir by impounding water to augment drinking water supply in Raichur city and villages along the canal.

This was decided at a meeting convened here on Thursday by Deputy Commissioner Tushar Girinath. Kalmala MLA Muniyappa Muddappa, Raichur MLA A. Papa Reddy and officials of the Water Resources Department attended the meeting.

Delay in sowing

Mr. Muniyappa told the meeting that good rains and timely release of water into the TLBC helped ayacutdars in the tail-end command areas to take up sowing of kharif crops in about 52,000 acres. But many farmers delayed sowing owing to continued rains. Hence, water supply to standing crops in Raichur taluk and parts of Manvi taluk should not be stopped till their harvesting, which is expected to be completed in the next 15 days, he said.

He said water should be drawn from the balancing reservoir as the quantum of water in the TLBC has reduced, affecting irrigation in tail-end areas.

Urging the authorities to maintain adequate storage in the balancing reservoir to augment drinking water supply in Raichur city and villages along the canal during summer, Mr. Reddy said the water level in the reservoir has come down to 24 ft with storage put at 0.45 tmcft.

Fears

There are fears that the water level may dip to 0.30 tmcft after releasing water for the standing crops in the command areas.

Water crisis

People living in Raichur and villagers along the TLBC are likely to face a severe water crisis if steps are not taken to improve the storage at the reservoir, he said.

The district administration should take steps to stabilise the water level in the reservoir before stopping the release of water into the closure in March, he added.

Official's assurance

Promising to safeguard the interest of the ayacutdars as well as take care of the drinking water needs of Raichur city, Mr. Girinath told the meeting that though the water level in the TLBC has come down, water will be released into the TLBC to help farmers.

Water supply in the canal will be continued till the end of December with minimum gauges, he added.

However, the supply in the canal will be brought to the normal level in January to take up sowing of summer crops. This will continue till the end of March, he said.

Storage

He said the available storage in the balancing reservoir will be used till the harvesting of standing crops in the command areas. At the same time, the storage level in the reservoir can be improved by impounding water from the canal.

He directed the Water Resource Department to initiate steps to release water into the canal from the reservoir as demanded by the ayacutdars and also to take steps to maintain the water level in the reservoir till the end of March.

Interests

This, he noted, would not only help farmers by ensuring that the kharif crops is harvested but would also prevent a water crisis from engulfing Raichur city and villages along the TLBC. The interests of both these constituencies need to be protected, he said.

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