KURNOOL: The work on closure of sluices of Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme (RDS) across Tungabhadra river began on Tuesday amid tension all around. A large posse of police force was deployed at the work site and in villages in Kurnool district to prevent farmers from moving to the anicut.

Engineers, led by Satyanand, Superintending Engineer of Priyadarshini Jurala Project (PJP), are supervising the closure of the three pipes with cement concrete.

The pipes in the anicut were the bone of contention between Mahabubnagar and Kurnool farmers as the former wanted their closure to ensure flow to the RDS canal while their Kurnool counterparts wanted them open for allowing flow downstream.

However, sudden release of water into the river to meet the drinking water needs of Karnataka areas hampered the work. The flow reached RDS anicut within hours of the work. The officials constructed a bund with sand bags to divert the flow.

For downstream

Meanwhile, the authorities decided to ensure flow to the downstream residents who are dependent on the river by operating river sluices. One of the five sluices would be lowered to a height of 1,080 ft from the present level of 1,082 ft.

The sluice is expected to ensure flow downstream and honour the lower riparian rights of KC canal and other irrigation systems.

Kurnool Collector M. Dana Kishore and SP B. Malla Reddy camped at Mantralayam throughout the day to ensure peaceful atmosphere. Mahabubnagar Collector Usharani also visited the site.

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