Despite receiving the highest rainfall and having four major rivers, lakhs of acres in Srikakulam district are not getting water for irrigation.
The State government’s proposals to improve irrigation facility remained only on papers with little progress in the construction of Vamsadhara Phase-2 and Thotapalli projects in the district.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has recently expressed his displeasure openly over the inordinate delay in the construction of the projects in spite of releasing huge funds for them.
Srikakulam district receives an average of 1,162 mm rainfall every year but it is not being utilised properly for irrigation facility. Rivers such as Nagavali, Vamsadhara, Mahendra Tanaya and Bahuda could provide water for 4.5 lakh acres of land out of the total 8.96 lakh acres.
The government planned to utilise 8 tmcft of water by constructing a side weir on a war-footing as part of Vamsadhara phase-2. This weir helps Andhra Pradesh to draw the excess water during floods and store it in the reservoir near Hiramandalam.
In fact, it is supposed to be completed by 2016 as the Vamsadhara Water Disputes Tribunal has given a favourable order for the State for the construction of a side weir although the State wanted another barrage across Vamsadhara phase-2.
The irrigation officials could not complete the construction of side weir with agitations by displaced persons who demanded excess compensation as per the new Land Acquisition Act 2013.
“It is the responsibility of the irrigation officials to complete the side weir on a war-footing. Otherwise, Odisha may raise new objections and file a fresh case in the Tribunal,” said a retired irrigation officer.
The same is the case with Thotapalli project. The government could complete the project in 2015 itself but the water is not reaching fields because of inordinate delay in construction of canals and distributor network in Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts. Lack of coordination between irrigation and revenue officials over acquisition of land for distributor network has turned out to be the bane of Thotapalli project.
Irrigation officials said that the farmers in many places were demanding huge compensation for surrendering their lands.
Little progress
Side weir in Vamsadhara phase 2 still to be completed
Thotapalli project hit by delay in construction of canals and distributor network
Demand for excess compensation by landowners cited as a problem
