Water Resources Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu has directed the officials to urgently ensure supply of water for every acre of land, even lands located at the tail-end of canals across the state.
The minister reviewed the situation for cultivation during the kharif season at a meeting attended by senior officials and superintending engineers via video mode from here on Tuesday.
He called upon the officials to be ready to take up an action plan in 10 days to ensure a smooth condition for cultivation of crops. They must ensure no inundation of fields in the rainy season, removal of silt and hyacinth in canals and drains, carry out repairs to the locks, outfall sluices and shutters of the canals, drains etc.
The minister asked the officials why they did not prepare the proposals by April and not finalised the tenders so as to take up the works in the summer. “Thousands of acres of farm lands are getting inundated even for a brief spell of rainfall, causing a lot of loss to the farmers,” he said.
He asked the officials to strengthen the Godavari flood banks wherever they were weak, and mobilise material to support the flood banks during the rains and floods in the river.
The minister also wanted the officials to take up repair works on the projects and reservoirs so as to release water for cultivation. “Once the proposed inter-linking of rivers is taken up, it would help make AP free from drought,” he said.
“We are making advance plans to avail water from the projects at Dowleswaram, Nagarjuna Sagar, Srisailam etc for the benefit of farmers and the people,” he said.
