Review meeting on Irrigation and Water Security
- Published By: techteam
- June 5, 2017 / 03:09 AM IST
In a review meeting on irrigation and water security, the officials informed the Chief Minister that monsoon will be fairly well distributed across Andhra Pradesh and that the districts of coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalseema will receive good rainfall. It was also informed that the district of Kurnool will receive extreme rainfall on the 7th and 8th of this month. “The overall rainfall scenario looks positive as of now and throughout the state, all districts will receive normal rainfall for the next 4 weeks,” they stated.
The review meeting was attended by all Chief Engineers from all the 13 districts of Andhra Pradesh. The Chief Minister suggested that a comprehensive water management programme should be taken up by all CEs this season. He advised that clearing of bottlenecks and obstructions should be done immediately. The Chief Minister suggested that forecasting accuracy should be improved and based on it, rainfall, temperature, groundwater and soil moisture testing should be done. Geo-tagging and mapping of all resources should be completed well within time, he added.
With the help of mobile lift irrigation method, the department plans to draw 1 tmc of water to provide water in a radius of 10 km. Costs and machinery requirement to fetch water to deficit areas should be studies and proposals should be put forward the Chief Minister said.
The Chief Minister suggested that the water resource department should hire an agency for the management of rain guns. He said that maintenance and operational costs will be paid to them and a nodal officer will be appointed to monitor their working. If need be, appoint a knowledge partner, the Chief Minister said.
The officials informed that for more than 4 years, new water was not added to the reserve but thanks to the bountiful rainfall predicted, new water will be added to the reserve this year and that more than 80 tmc of water will be pumped from Pattisema this season. With regard to Pulichintala, the officials informed that it will be filled up by adding large volume of water. Pattiseema water should be used to serve the needs of Krishna Delta region and for future needs, storage of Pulichintala water is important.
Before the end of October, we will be able to operate all 10 pumps in Purushothapatnam lift irrigation project thus providing water to Vishakhapatnam. With this, our aim to provide water for drinking, irrigation and industries will be fulfilled, the Chief Minister said.
“During this season, just not crop saving but yield protection is important, “the Chief Minister said.
The Chief Minister said that SEs and ECs are custodians of water. He has ordered all of them to work with ISRO and coordinate well with the department to bring information on real-time basis. He said that prediction is one angle but sending teams to districts to sensitize local officers is equally important.
The Chief Minister has asked the department to send out alerts to public on the predictions during this monsoon by using platforms such as call center and 1001.
1412 tanks in Anantapur will be provided water through mobile lift irrigation in this season. Under the water resource information and management system, mapping and positing of mobile lift machinery for the districts of Kurnool, Kadapa and Prakasam will be completed by next week end, the officials said.
“Water will be pushed to all parts of the state to safe crops this season using the best technology. We assure that it will be done,” stated the Chief Minister.
“Dry spell mitigation and transfer of surplus water to deficit areas are two key objectives that we need to achieve for this season, the Chief Minister said. All officers should work on real-time basis during the rainfall season and information should be communicated timely to the people, the Chief Minister added.
