Chief Engineer (Designs) I.S.N. Raju on Friday visited Mylavaram and Ramachandrapuram branch points on the Nagarjuna Sagar left canal to take stock of the situation following representations over lack of sufficient water to save the standing crop in the areas covered by the canal.
Farmers' leaders who met him during the tour narrated their woes due to their inability to get enough water to save the crop. Mr. Raju assured them that more water would be released into the canals so that the needs of even tail-end farmers would be served effectively in the coming days.
Mylavaram MLA and TDP district convener Devineni Umamaheswara Rao, who was also present along with the Chief Engineer, wanted the Irrigation authorities to address the problems of farmers on a priority basis so that they would not suffer any losses during the crop season. He told the visiting officials that the farmers were getting bogged down due to debts following repeated losses.
He complained to the Chief Engineer that there was excess drawing of water from the NSP left canal in the upper regions due to which farmers of Kanchikacherla, Mylavaram, Nuzvid and other areas were facing shortage of water. He said that the woes of tail-end farmers were even more painful. After patiently listening to the leaders and farmers, Mr. Raju said that all steps would be taken to save the standing crop in the tail-end areas and the farmers need not worry about it.
Farmers growing paddy and maize in the areas where shortage of water was reported came in large numbers and represented their problems to the Irrigation officials.
