The Kakinada District Irrigation Advisory Board (IAB) on Tuesday passed a resolution to divert water from the Godavari River to the Yeleru reservoir to irrigate 53,000 acres under the ayacut during the Kharif season in Kakinada district.

A major portion of the ayacut of the Yeleru reservoir falls within the assembly segments of Pithapuram, Peddapuram and Jaggampeta in Kakinada district.

At a meeting chaired by District Collector M.N. Harendhira Prasad, the board has decided to draw Godavari water through the Purushottapatnam Lift Irrigation Scheme linked to the upstream Polavaram project.

“At least 1,000 cusecs of water will be released immediately from the dead storage level of the Yeleru reservoir before the Godavari water is drawn,” said Mr. Harendhira Prasad.

Water scarcity

Kakinada Member of Parliament Tangella Uday Srinivas announced that only 8.2 TMC of water was currently available as against the 14 TMC required for Kharif operations in the Kakinada district, which falls in the Eastern Godavari Delta.

In a press conference after the IAB meeting, Mr. Harendhira Prasad announced; “Farmers are expected to use the available water judiciously on sharing basis, to ensure the tail-end areas get access to water. The vigilance on water use will be intensified.”

Responding to the allegations of illegal diversion of irrigation water by the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation and Reliance groups, the Collector said; “We will inspect the allegations related to the illegal diversion of irrigation water by the ONGC and Reliance and prevent such incidents.”

Water Resources Department Engineer-In-Chief K. Narasimha Murthy has urged farmers to prefer short-duration crops instead of paddy.

MLC Pidugu Hariprasad said that Deputy Chief Minister and Pithapuram MLA K. Pawan Kalyan is closely monitoring the challenges in supplying irrigation water, and had sanctioned ₹3 crore for the operation of lift irrigation schemes.

Central Delta

Meanwhile, the Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Konaseema District Irrigation Advisory Board chaired by District Collector R. Mahesh Kumar prepared an action to utilise the Godavari water in the Central Godavari Delta and ensure adequate water supply to the tail-end areas.

“At least 9.7 TMC of Godavari water has been supplied to the Central Delta since May 31 for Kharif operations in the district,” said Mr. Mahesh Kumar.

Published - July 28, 2026 08:49 pm IST