In flood-hit AP, Nellore dist is dry as dust!

Nellore: Despite the massive floods to Krishna and Tungabhadra , thousands of acres in the region wear a deserted look as two major reservoirs - Somasila and Kandaleru in the district are dried up.

The two projects, which can jointly save nearly 146 tmc of water, at present hold just 6 tmc of water. The delay in diverting water from Srisailam is believed to have left both the reservoirs high and dry.

Irrigation minister Anil Kumar Yadav, who hails from the district, is now in a tight spot as filling up the reservoirs in his home turf has now become a matter of prestige for the YSR Congress minister.

The acute shortage has resulted in farmers of nearly 3 lakh acres under Somasila ayacut anxiously waiting for the arrival of water from Srisailam. Somasila is dependent on the outflows from Pothireddypadu head regulator which has to cater the irrigation needs of the farmers in Kadapa, Kurnool and Anantapuram districts as the water is diverted to different irrigation canals in the three districts.

According to sources, the authorities are releasing just around 36,000 cusecs to Pothireddypadu canals against its maximum flow capacity of 44,000 cusecs which is causing the delay in taking the water to Somasila. The farmers from Kurnool and Kadapa districts are demanding that the capacity of Pothireddypadu canals should be increased to 60,000 cusecs to meet the requirements of all distributary channels in the Rayalaseema region