Kurnool Collector warns against diverting drinking water for irrigation purposes
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District Collector A. Siri has directed officials to initiate steps to ensure there will not be any drinking water shortage in Kurnool district until next June. She instructed that water stored in the Gajuladinne and Sunkesula projects be used solely for drinking purposes and must not be diverted for irrigation of crops.
Ms. Siri emphasised the need for measures to prevent any drinking water scarcity in villages and towns, given the lack of sufficient rainfall in the district. She instructed that the available water reserves be prioritised for drinking needs until June. The Collector stressed that water from the Gajuladinne and Sunkesula projects was strictly for drinking and cannot be used by farmers for Rabi season crop cultivation.
The RDOs, the District Agriculture Officer, and the District Horticulture Officer were instructed to form teams to raise awareness among farmers regarding these restrictions. Officials from the Municipal, Rural Water Supply (RWS), and Irrigation departments were also told to ensure that all summer storage tanks were filled with water and to take appropriate measures to utilise water from the Tungabhadra and Handri-Neeva projects for drinking water purposes.
Meanwhile, Kurnool Municipal Corporation (KMC) Commissioner Challa Obulesu has urged the farmers not to divert water intended for the drinking needs of Kurnool city residents, which is being taken to the Sunkesula Reservoir via the K-C Canal to the Munagalapadu summer storage tank, for irrigation purposes. He warned that anyone found illegally diverting water will face action and the motors used for such purposes will be seized in addition to other legal action.
The Commissioner, who inspected the Munagalapadu summer storage tank and the Sunkesula Reservoir on Thursday, instructed officials to take proactive measures to prevent any drinking water shortages in the city during the upcoming summer. He emphasised the need to coordinate with the Water Resources Department to ensure that sufficient drinking water was stored in advance to meet the cityβs requirements.
He directed that the pipeline project, currently under construction from Sunkesula to the Munagalapadu summer storage tank, at a cost of βΉ82 crore, be completed swiftly.
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