The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : ‘Ryots under Jurala losing water’

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Friday, Nov 14, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

‘Ryots under Jurala losing water’

Correspondent

Jitender Reddy criticises State government

MAHABUBNAGAR: Former Lok Sabha member from Mahabubnagar A.P. Jitender Reddy said that farmers under Jurala irrigation project were losing their share of Krishna waters due to the indifferent attitude of state government.

Speaking to media persons here on Thursday he alleged that the State government was deliberately not putting efforts to fill the reservoir of Jurala project up to full reservoir level (FRL) in order to benefit Krishna delta and Pothireddipadu canal. Explaining background of the Jurala project, he said that Bachawat tribunal has allocated 17.84 TMC ft of Krishna waters to Jurala project, but the reservoir was constructed to fill only 11.94 TMC ft of water due to which ayacutdars of Jurala project have lost their legitimate share of 6 TMC ft of water in Krishna river.

As the rehabilitation and resettlement of oustees in the submerge area that falls in Karnataka have not been completed even after 27 years only over 8 TMC ft of water is being stored in the reservoir, he said. As against 318.516 meter, which is full reservoir level (FRL), water is being stored up to the level of 314.55 meters he said. Over all he said every year over 10 TMC ft of water from the allocated water of Jurala project was being left down stream just because of State government’s laxity in persuading the Karnataka government to complete its R&R programme in submerging areas.

He said that though the State government has deposited entire amount of Rs.91 crore for R&R programme in Karnataka state, that government has utilised only Rs.36 crore and R&R programme was going on at snail’s pace.

Jitender Reddy alleged that the State government was deliberately not mounting pressure on Karnataka government to speed up its R&R programme because it does not want to store Krishna water up to FRL in Jurala reservoir, by which Krishna delta and Pothireddypadu projects get the water.

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