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APRS disputes official claim on Somasila water

By Our Staff Reporter

NELLORE DEC. 8. The A.P. Rythu Sangham (APRS) district unit on Sunday disputed the claim of S.E. Irrigation, Nellore circle, that the available storage of water in Somasila was sufficient only for 1.40-lakh acres during the kharif. The Sangham claimed that there was sufficient water to irrigate nearly three-lakh acres.

Addressing a press conference here, the Sangham president, Ch. Ramana Reddy, and the secretary, Ch. Rajagopal, took exception to the irrigation authorities repeating what had transpired at the Irrigation Advisory Board (IAB) meeting here October 30. The leaders said since the last meeting, there had been heavy rains in the district resulting in all the tanks getting sufficient water. The Somasila reservoir also received water, besides the accumulated water in irrigation canals under Pennar delta ayacut.

They claimed there was nearly 37 tmcft of water under Pennar delta and a net of 30 tmcft of water was available taking into account evaporation, dead storage and the quantity required for emergency.

Mr. Reddy and Mr. Rajagopal contended that the irrigation officials did not take into account the groundwater availability besides borewells and filter points. They also disputed estimates of the irrigation department that one tmcft of water was sufficient for 5,000 acres and instead said it would cater to 10,000 acres.

Also in view of winter season, there would be minimum evaporation. The functionaries criticised the officials for sticking to the IAB meeting resolutions without taking into consideration later developments. They wanted to know the rationale behind supplying water only to delta areas and demanded that water should be supplied to all areas only from first week of January. They also demanded that another IAB meeting be convened.

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