Closing the Water Gap

Agriculture & Rural

Posted by AI on 2025-08-26 01:43:57 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-12-16 11:32:50

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In a major decision that will provide much-needed irrigation to over 3 lakh farmers in the Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh, the local Irrigation Advisory Board (IAB) has allocated 41 trillion cubic feet (tmcft) of water for the second crop in the Rabi season. The water will be released from the Somasila reservoir to the crop canals from May 5, with officials working with local Water Users Associations presidents to provide water to farmers efficiently.

This decision comes at a time when the district has a total storage capacity of 52.653 tmcft of water in Somasila reservoir, 3.615 tmcft of water in Kanigiri and Sarvepalli reservoirs, and approximately 43.768 tmcft of water overall. After excluding 7,500 tmcft of dead storage, 1,500 tmcft of water vapour, and 3,500 tmcft for drinking water needs, the remaining water is more than enough to meet local demands.

The Endowments Minister, Anam Ramanarayana Reddy, stated that the water should be used in a planned manner, with approximately 36 tmcft allocated for Rabi crop irrigation and 10 tmcft stored for future needs and the upcoming Kharif crop. The Minister also announced that the government has released INR 18 crore for major and minor irrigation works in the district and urged officials to prioritize works according to the suggestions of the MLAs of the respective constituencies and the presidents of the Water Users Associations.

Reddy advised the officials to take up desilting of minor irrigation canals through the employment guarantee scheme. The Minister's call for cooperation in this matter highlights the need for responsible water usage and sustainable practices, ensuring a bright and fertile future for the local agriculture and farming industry, and the thousands of families and businesses that rely on it.

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