Krishna delta farmers stage protest over delay in release of irrigation water
Farmers of the Krishna delta, under the banner of the Andhra Pradesh Rythu Sangham, staged a protest near the Sunkarivari Thota bridge on the outskirts
Farmers of the Krishna delta, under the banner of the Andhra Pradesh Rythu Sangham, staged a protest near the Sunkarivari Thota bridge on the outskirts of Eluru on Sunday, demanding the immediate release of irrigation water for their agricultural lands. Addressing the gathering, Andhra Pradesh Rythu Sangham State assistant secretary K. Srinivas warned that farmers would intensify their agitation if the government failed to release water without further delay. Srinivas alleged that the government had initially assured farmers that irrigation water would be released from June 15 and encouraged them to prepare nurseries for paddy cultivation.
However, he said the government was now advising farmers against cultivating paddy, which he described as unfair and detrimental to their livelihoods. He questioned why water was not being supplied to the Krishna delta despite abundant inflows into the Krishna and Godavari rivers and the discharge of floodwaters into the sea. The farmers’ leader said paddy cultivation in the Krishna delta was largely confined to the kharif season, while only rain-fed crops were cultivated during the rabi season because of water scarcity.
He warned that denying irrigation facilities in both seasons would severely affect farmers, tenant cultivators and agricultural labourers, forcing many to migrate in search of employment. Srinivas said the government could utilise water from the Pattiseema Lift Irrigation Scheme and the Pulichintala project to meet the requirements of the delta region. He also questioned why water from the Godavari was not being supplied through the Ponangi canal to irrigate around 10,000 acres in Eluru mandal. The farmers demanded the immediate release of water into the Krishna Eastern Canal to protect standing crops, pointing out that cultivators had already invested between Rs.
10,000 and Rs. 15,000 per acre in raising paddy nurseries and transplanting saplings. The organisation announced that another protest would be held in front of the Eluru Collectorate on Monday and warned that road blockades would be organised if the government failed to respond to their demands.
The BriefWire