During summer, water levels in the Somasila and Kandaleru reservoirs used to touch the dead storage mark even as farmers and rural people faced hardships due to non-release of water for agricultural and drinking needs.
But this year, there have been considerable and adequate water levels in both the reservoirs which have helped in releasing of water to grow the second crop on over 1.75 lakh acres in both upland areas and the Penna delta in Nellore district.
The recent widespread rains all over the district under the influence of the Roanu cyclone further raised hopes among the Irrigation officials and farmers about the scope for better storage of water and also optimum utilisation of water in the reservoirs.
For nearly a week, there were showers in the coastal areas continuously reducing the farmers’ need for more water. The lands have become wet all over and the problem of evaporation and wastages has also been considerably reduced. “These rains were very much encouraging this time. They came at the right time. Because of this, 1 to 2 tmc of water will be saved in the form of reduction in evaporation losses and wastages,” said Ch. Koti Reddy, president of the Nellore District Farmers’ Association.
Water for Chennai likely
As of now, the storage at the Somasila reservoir stood at around 24.47 tmcft with the water level being 294.2 ft. The dead storage had been reached sometimes in the past. The present storage in the Kandaleru reservoir is stated to be 26.3 tmc of which some water would be released to meet the drinking needs of people in Chennai city.
This reservoir was being used more like a stock point also rather than solely meeting the irrigation needs.
Following a decision taken at the Irrigation Board meeting, the officials had already started releasing water from the Somasila for meeting the needs of the second crop. The farmers have gone mostly for paddy cultivation.
In the past, when there was higher quantity of water storage in the Somasila, the farmers grew the second crop on 2.15 lakh acres also.
Paddy cultivation has further picked up in Nellore district in recent months as there is good scope for sale of rice in neighbouring states with the lifting of restrictions on transportation.
