The CPI, CPI(M) and the YSR Congress Party have threatened to block the National Highway at Kalluru in Anantapur district if the State government failed to release water to all tanks in Singanamala constituency from High Level Canal of Tungabhadra.
Participating in ‘Vanta Varpu’ agitation programme at Tungabhadra HLC Superintending Engineer’s office here on Tuesday, CPI(M) district secretary V. Rambhupal and YSRCP leader Anantha Venkatarami Reddy along with other leaders forced SE Hamid Saheb to give a definitive plan for water release. The irrigation official said he would try to release water through HLC till January 15.
The former MP held discussions with Chief Engineer Jalandhar over phone from the SE’s office and sought water for this one crop in Anantapurby temporarily taking water from PABR Dam and Mid Penna Reservoir (MPR) Dam as the Krishna water can be later taken from the HNSS system for drinking purposes.
Farmers and political leaders asked the irrigation officials to talk to Irrigation Minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao and the Principal Secretary, Irrigation, to ensure at least full supply of water for one crop in Anantapur as sufficient water was available. They blamed the TDP leaders and irrigation officials for not planning the water release and filling of tanks properly as per priority.
There was also possibility of diversion of water from the KC Canal to supply water to the district, for which sanction through a G.O. was available and about 6 tmcft could be brought here. When the irrigation officials offered to supply water with breaks of some days, the farmers did not agree.
The HLC Superintending Engineer said he along with the District Collector, and Irrigation CE had been reviewing the situation everyday and were in touch with the Irrigation Secretary.
