Farmers at Tail end of Irrigation System Should get Water During Yasangi: Uttam

Hyderabad: Irrigation & Civil Supplies Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy emphasised that farmers at the tail end of the irrigation system must receive adequate water during the Yasangi (Rabi) 2024-25 season.

Speaking at a review meeting at Jala Soudha on Friday, after a presentation on water regulation under the Sriram Sagar Project (SRSP), the minister directed officials to implement strict tail-to-head regulation to ensure equitable distribution of water. The Sriram Sagar Project, initiated in 1964, is a multipurpose project constructed across the Godavari River near Pochampad in Nizamabad district. It irrigates a total of 9.68 lakh acres, benefiting districts such as Nizamabad, Jagtial, Karimnagar, Peddapalli, and Warangal. Of this, 540,171 acres lie above the Lower Manair Dam (LMD), covering constituencies like Jagityal, Koratla, and Balkonda under Zone I, and Choppadandi, Karimnagar, and Dharmapuri under Zone II. Below LMD, the project serves 361,078 acres, with Zone I covering constituencies such as Manakondoor, Huzurabad, and Parkal, and Zone II extending to Wardhannapet, Palakurthy, and Madhira.

Officials informed that an On and Off water regulation system will be followed to ensure efficient utilisation. Above LMD, water will be supplied on a 7-day On and 7-day Off schedule for Zone I and an 8-day ON and 7-day Off schedule for Zone II. This arrangement began on December 25, 2024, and it will continue until April 8 this year. Below LMD, water distribution started from January 9, for Zone I and from January 1, for Zone II, with the supply ending on March 31, for both zones. These schedules are designed to balance irrigation needs with water availability.

Officials also informed that the operational plan for Yasangi 2024-25 involves a total water requirement of 77.76 TMC above LMD and 49.89 TMC below LMD for both Stage-I and Stage-II combined. Below LMD, Stage-I covers ayacut areas between km 146 and km 284, requiring 23.28 TMC, while Stage-II spans from km 284 to km 346, requiring 26.61 TMC. The total ayacut below LMD amounts to 9.04 lakh acres. As of January 2025, the SRSP reservoir holds 80.50 TMC of water, which is sufficient to meet the needs above LMD. However, below LMD, the projected requirements closely match the available water, leaving little room for additional uses.

Uttam Kumar Reddy highlighted the role of major canals like the Kakatiya Main Canal, Saraswathi Canal, and Laxmi Canal, along with the Choutpally Hanmanth Reddy Lift Irrigation Scheme, in facilitating water distribution. He stressed the importance of timely maintenance of canals, including jungle clearance and addressing operational issues, to ensure uninterrupted water flow throughout the season. Adequate reservoir storage should also be maintained for drinking water and for municipal needs, he said.