Anantapur: Reservoirs, canals receive adequate quantities of water

Anantapur: Almost all the reservoirs, canals and village tanks in the district have been receiving adequate quantities of water owing to supply of Krishna water to the district through Hundri Neeva Sujala Sravanthi (HNSS).

Frequent incessant rains in the monsoon season helped for filling up of canals and for flow of Krishna water to the district. For the first time, farmers are celebrating water festival as the region received sufficient water and groundwater levels rose by 7.12 metres.

The total water stored in the district is 67 tmc ft while reservoirs and tanks stored water to the tune of 28 tmc ft. In all there are 1,470 village tanks while 1,300 tanks stored water to the quantum of 11 tmc ft which can irrigate about 3 lakh acres of crop lands.

Similarly water from Tungabhadra reservoir through the HLC canal which reached the district was 16 tmc ft as against 24 tmc fr which was supposed to be released to the district.The reservoirs like PABR, MPR, CBR, Chagallu, Pendekallu and Kanekal have substantial storage of water which have potential to irrigate 1 lakh acres.

Deputy director of Ground Water department Tippeswamy told 'The Hans India' that ground water levels in the district rose by 28 metres. He said that the district needs 50 tmc ft of water to cater to multiple requirements.

Out of 2.45 lakh agriculture bores operating in the district, ground water levels in 2 lakh bores have substantially increased. Farmers should conserve water and prevent wastage by using drip irrigation and digging soak pits, he said.