Farmers anxious as Kadem project stops water supply for agriculture

Irrigation officials in Nirmal have announced that water from the Kadem Narayana Reddy Project will be reserved exclusively for drinking purposes from November 7 until summer 2027. The decision was taken due to declining water levels in the reservoir. The move is expected to impact Yasangi cultivation, triggering concern among farmers who depend on the project for irrigation.

Nirmal: Irrigation officials declared that water would not be supplied from Kaddam Narayana Reddy project or Kadem dam to agricultural needs from November 7, considering drinking water requirements in the ensuing summer. They issued a statement to this effect on Monday evening.

As per the statement, the water stored in the project would be utilized only for drinking water needs from November 7 until the summer of 2027. Farmers were requested to cooperate with the department. The move is likely to affect various crops during the Yasangi season as they depend on water supplied from the project and the notification has triggered anxiety among farmers.

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According to the official data , water level in the project is currently at 693.635 feet as against the storage capacity of 3.495 tmcft. The project level reached 700 feet in monsoon due to rains in upstream areas. However, the project saw a dip in the level in October, prompting the officials to stop releases for agricultural needs.

Farmers said that paddy has reached the harvesting stage in the Vanakalam season. They claimed that they managed to raise the crop with the help of the water released from the project. They, however, expressed concern over irrigation facilities in summer. They regretted that they would not be able to cultivate crops in Yasangi if the water was not supplied from the project.

Built across Kadem river in 1949, the dam can irrigate 68,150 acres of land in Khanapur and Mancherial Assembly constituencies located on the right flank of Godavari river. Kadem is a tributary of Godavari river.