Irrigation panel reviews water availability and crop planning

Metro India News | MAHABUBNAGAR

A meeting of the Irrigation Advisory Committee was held at the Wanaparthy District Collectorate on Wednesday under the chairmanship of District Collector Adarsh Surabhi. State Ministers Jupally Krishna Rao and Vakiti Srihari, MLAs from the erstwhile Palamuru district, district collectors and senior irrigation and agriculture officials attended the meeting. The committee reviewed drought conditions, the impact of El Niño, water storage levels in irrigation projects and the irrigation and drinking water requirements for the coming days.

Wanaparthy MLA Thudi Megha Reddy urged officials to fill the Narlapur, Yedula and Vattem reservoirs through the Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme. He said releasing even limited quantities of water could help farmers who had already cultivated paddy avoid losses. He also sought measures to fill Shankara Samudram Reservoir. Minister Jupally Krishna Rao advised farmers to shift to less water-intensive crops such as green gram, groundnut and oil palm.Minister Vakiti Srihari stressed the need to regularly inform farmers about inflows, water releases and storage levels.

Gadwal MLA Bandla Krishna Mohan Reddy sought intermittent releases from Jurala and Nettempadu projects, while other legislators urged efficient water use. Collector Adarsh Surabhi called for advance crop planning based on available water and encouraged farmers to cultivate dry crops.