Miffed over water shortage, farmers forcefully open reservoir gates in Khammam
The farmers have been asking the local MLA and Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy for a month to draw water from Nagarunsagar.
- Telangana
NewsTAP Bureau- Updated On:5 Feb 2024 3:56 PM GMT
KHAMMAM: Miffed over water shortage and fear of crops drying up, farmers in Kusumanchi and Nelakondapalli villages of Khammam district forcefully raised the canal gates of Paleru reservoir.
They farmers have been complaining that rice, sugarcane and other crops were cultivated in about 20,000 acres but there was hardly any water to irrigate the crops. They have been asking the local MLA and Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy for a month to draw water from Nagarunsagar.
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On Sunday, When the farmers asked officials of the reservoir to release water immediately, they refused saying that water was at dead storage level in the Paleru reservoir.
Currently around 3,000 cusecs of water is being from Nagarjunsagar dam and water level of Paleru reservoir is at 16 feet. The higher authorities thus ordered officials to use water from the reservior strictly to meet drinking water needs. However the farmers were adamant and forcibly opened the old canal gates and released 150 cusecs.
Due to a tense atmoshpere, Khammam RDO Ganesh, Khammam rural ACP Baswa Reddy, inspector Kandi Jitender Reddy and other officials rushed to the spot. They closed the canal gates after holding discussions with farmers.
