Blasting by private parties in the vicinity of the Yeleru project are posing a threat to the reservoir, District Irrigation Advisory Committee (DIAC) members have said demanded unanimously that the government must stop the activity immediately. The blastings are taking place within 500 metres from the reservoir, they said. Participating in the DIAC meeting, the members also demanded completion of all the pending irrigation projects.
The members expressed concern over the delay in executing modernisation works of Yeleru reservoir though Rs 132 crore was sanctioned.
Union minister of state for defence MM Pallam Raju advised irrigation officials to work with responsibility and accountability for the welfare of the farming community.
Animal husbandry minister Pinipe Viswaroop and stamps and registration minister Thota Narsimham spoke.
Rajya Sabha MP T Ratnabai said the officials were supplying water only to for 15,000 acres, instead of 22,000 acres under Bhupatipalem and Musurumilli reservoirs in the Agency area.
Anaparthi MLA N Sesha Reddy said only one pump is functioning as against total nine pumps under the Chagalnadu pumping scheme. The government has sanctioned Rs 2.30 crore for repairing the pumps, but no action has been taken so far.
Collector Neetu Prasad directed the superintending engineer to submit a report on fallow paddy fields.
Committee chairman RB Choudary, MLCs BBR Rao, NC Rajappa, VG Rao, and Raja Ashok Babu, presidents of water users associations and irrigation officials were present.