Nellore IAB allocates 41 tmc water for over 3 lakh acres in Rabi season

Endowments Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy addressing the officials during the Irrigation Advisory Board meeting chaired by district Collector O. Anand at Z.P. Conference hall in Nellore on Thursday.

With the approval of all the local MLAs and Water Users Associations’ presidents, a resolution was passed to allocate 41 tmc of water for over 3 lakh acres for the second crop in Rabi season, Endowments Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy said during Irrigation Advisory Board (IAB) meeting chaired by SPSR Nellore district Collector O. Anand at Z.P. Conference hall on Thursday.

“Water from Somasila reservoir will be released to the crop canals from May 5. During these three months, irrigation officials will work with the Water Users Associations’ presidents to provide water to the farmers in a proper manner,” the Minister said, congratulating the newly-elected presidents of the Water Users Associations.

“The district currently has a storage capacity of 52.653 tmc of water in Somasila reservoir, 3.615 tmc of water in Kanigiri and Sarvepalli reservoirs. About 43.768 tmc of water is available, excluding 7,500 tmc of dead storage, 1,500 tmc of water vapour, and 3,500 tmc for drinking water needs of the people in Nellore city limits, Kavali, Allur, Atmakur and other towns,” he said.

The Minister urged everyone to cooperate in using water in a planned manner, using approximately 36 tmc of water for Rabi crop irrigation needs and storing 10 tmc of water for future needs and the upcoming Kharif crop. Based on this water availability, the authorities have proposed an allocation of 43.42 tmc of water for a total area of 3.69 lakh acres.

He said that the government has released ₹18 crore for major and minor irrigation works in the district and advised the officials to take up the works on priority basis as per the suggestions of the MLAs of the respective constituencies and the presidents of the Water Users Associations. Desilting of minor irrigation canals must be taken up through the employment guarantee scheme, the Minister added.