Prakash Jain

ADONI: The fast by TDP leader and former MLA Prakash Jain in support of Tungabhadra Low-Level (TBLLC) Canal farmers entered the third day on Sunday.

Representatives of important parties, except the Congress, visited Mr. Jain opposite the bus stand and expressed their solidarity.

Mr. Jain launched his fast at a time when farmers under the low-level canal were in serious distress.

As against 34,000 acres, paddy transplantation was completed only in 6,000 acres and that too in the upper reaches.

The TDP leader sought immediate steps to ensure delivery of 600 cusecs at the Andhra Pradesh border and a permanent solution to the problem.

This year, the flow at the border was only 300 cusecs.

Only source

After Mr. Jain launched the fast, the flow rose to 410 cusecs providing some relief.

Mr. Jain told The Hindu that lack of sincerity among irrigation officials and the Government was behind the misery.

Describing the TBLLC as the lifeline of Adoni division, he said the canal was the only source of drinking water for 290 villages besides Adoni and Yemmiganur municipalities.

Occasionally, Kurnool city too depended on it by drawing water from the Gajuladinne project.

Under long-term solution, Mr. Jain suggested bypassing of the canal from 72 km in Karnataka to 187 km through an underground pipeline.

According to him, the project would cost Rs. 150 crores.

He explained that it was easy to draw 600 cusecs at 72 km where the flow in the canal is around 1,700 cusecs and deliver 600 cusecs without loss at 187 km.

According to him, this was the only way to save the low-level canal.

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