Farmers stage dharna at Saidapur demanding water from Mid Manair in Karimnagar

Farmers staged a dharna at Duddenapalli in Saidapur mandal, demanding immediate water supply from the Mid Manair right canal, alleging silt accumulation was blocking irrigation to Yasangi crops across several villages.

Karimnagar: Farmers staged a dharna at Duddenapalli village in Saidapur mandal on Saturday, demanding immediate supply of water to standing crops from the Mid Manair right canal.

The farmers, under the aegis of the BRS, organised the protest and raised slogans urging the government to ensure water flow by removing silt piled up in the canal.

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Speaking on the occasion, they said water was usually supplied from Duddenapalli to Gujjulapalli through the MMD right canal, benefiting crops in Eklaspur, Venkepally and Saidapur as well. During the Yasangi season, farmers largely depended on the canal for irrigation.

Though water had been released into the canal from MMD, it had not reached their villages due to silt and garbage accumulated along the canal stretch.

Every year, the canal was cleared in December to facilitate water supply. However, this time, no repair or desilting works were taken up even after January ended, they alleged.

While a majority of farmers had already sown crops, some were still waiting for water. They warned that crops in 30 to 40 acres would dry up if water was not supplied within a week.

The farmers cautioned that they would intensify their agitation if the government failed to clear the canal and release water within the next one week.

On receiving information about the dharna, police visited the spot and persuaded the agitating farmers to withdraw their protest.

BRS mandal president Somarapur Rajaiah, former sarpanch Thatipally Yugendar Reddy and others participated in the dharna.