The recent allocation of water from the Kandaleru reservoir here for outside projects and industries has raised concern among the farmers’ community in Nellore district.
As the farmers’ associations and the opposition parties have taken strong objection to diversion of water to the Chittoor drinking and irrigation project from here, the Government is said to have given approval for additional allocation of 50 lakh litres per day for the Pepsi Co unit coming up at Sri City industrial hub. For this also, water is to be drawn from the Kandaleru project.
Adding to the woes of the farmers this year, there was far less rainfall in the district compared to last year. Consequently, the district administration was asked to prepare and send reports on the drought situation in different mandals.
Farmer leaders are demanding that the protection of irrigation water supply should be ensured by not diverting any additional water from Kandaleru keeping in view of the future needs of agriculture in the district. Any further allocations to projects outside the district will make it difficult to meet the needs of farmers in times of poor rainfall. Though there were plenty of inflows into the reservoirs due to heavy rains in upper catchment areas this season, there is hope among the farmers to some extent on saving their crops. There is 34 tmc storage in Kandaleru as of now.
As per the agreement between Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, Kandaleru water is being released to meet the drinking water needs of Chennai to some extent. The supply is affected through the Satya Sai canal and Poondi reservoir. Recently, reports have appeared stating that Kandaleru water is to be supplied through Varadaiahpalem canal to the Pepsi Co at Sri City. Under the Chittoor project, a pipeline is going to be laid to supply Kandaleru water.
Financial allocation has been made for the pipeline project already.
