The Wyra Project Ayacut Parirakshana Committee is gearing up to make a concerted effort for removal of encroachments along the banks of Wyra river.
It also proposes to build a movement to press for allocation of two tmc ft water from Nagarjunasagar Project (NSP) left canal to the Wyra medium irrigation project per annum.
The Wyra project of the Nizam era has an ayacut of over 20,000 acres spread in Wyra, Bonakal and Thallada.
The Wyra river-based Bodepudi Srujala Sravanthi scheme is the prime drinking water source for 89 gram panchayats in six mandals - Wyra, Konijerla, Thallada, Bonakal, Madhira and Yerrupalem.
Over 1,800 fishermen belonging to Thallada and Konijerla mandals are dependent on the Wyra for their livelihood.
The Wyra reservoir is also set to become a major component of the TRS Government’s Mission Bhagiratha drinking water scheme, which envisages sourcing of water from the reservoir to cater to the drinking water needs of the households in 12 mandals.
However, the water level in the reservoir plummeted to 10.8 feet as against its full reservoir level of 18.3 feet ahead of peak summer.
In an effort to revive the glory of the Nizam period’s medium irrigation project and safeguard the interests of the ayacutdars, the committee representing them has drawn up plans to hold a series of agitations to press for its charter of demands.
The large-scale encroachments on the floodplains of the river has already taken a toll on the water carrying capacity of the river, deplored B. Rambabu, the convener of the committee.
Contractors’ apathy
A portion of the river bund and some pipelines of the Bodepudi Srujala Sravanthi scheme had suffered damage due to the careless manner in which the work on the Mission Bhagiratha scheme is being carried out by the contractors concerned, he alleged.
The committee will hold a farmers’ convention involving leaders of various mass organisations in Wyra next week as part of a broad-based movement to safeguard the interests of the ayacutdars of the project, he said.
