The government promised release of water from the Muchumarri lift irrigation scheme into the KC Canal till February 25, but water release was stopped after three days leading to withering of kharif crops, adding to the woes of the drought-hit farmers of Kurnool and Kadapa districts, KC Canal Parirakshana Samithi convener Bojja Dasaratharami Reddy said on Monday.
The cotton, chilli, groundnut and Bengal gram crops required water till harvest, but stoppage of water would lead to drying up of the crops and drive farmers into a debt trap, Mr. Reddy said in a statement.
Political parties and farmers’ associations represented to the government through the executive engineer of KC Canal at Nandyal, and the government ordered water release till February 25 in the first phase and from March 10 to 20 in the second phase, he said.
However, water release was stopped after three days, he lamented and urged Collector Ch. Vijayamohan to release water into the KC Canal. Mr. Dasaratharami Reddy wanted the Gundrevula project constructed to draw water to the KC Canal by gravity, ensure proper water management and timely release of water to save the crops.
KC Canal ayacutdars have been losing crops and incurring losses in the last two decades owing to lack of proper planning and release of water, he added.
