Rabi outlook under Sriram Sagar Project not so promising

Farmers in Stage II of the project initiate protests over uncertainty surrounding irrigation support

Hyderabad: The Sriram Sagar Project (SRSP) has witnessed a substantial influx of water during the current water year, with cumulative inflows reaching 283 TMC since the onset of the monsoon season. The Kharif crop season enjoyed the benefits of plentiful rainfall, ensuring a smooth and productive period for farmers. However, the outlook for the Rabi season appears less promising. It is raising concerns among the agricultural community.

Farmers in Stage II of the SRSP have already initiated protests, with demonstrations reported in areas like Ramoji Tanda in Suryapet district on Saturday. The unrest primarily stemmed from the uncertainty surrounding irrigation support for the Rabi season.

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The water requirement for Rabi seems to be in a delicate balance with the available supply, putting officials in a challenging position to meet the demands, particularly in constituencies such as Huzurnagar and Kodad, represented by Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy and his wife Padmavathi Reddy.

The SRSP command has an extensive area of 9.68 lakh acres, benefiting several districts, including Nizamabad, Jagtial, Karimnagar, Peddapalli, and Warangal. Of this, 5,40,171 acres are located upstream of the Lower Manair Dam (LMD). The command area falls in Jagityal, Koratla, and Balkonda under Zone I, and Choppadandi, Karimnagar, and Dharmapuri under Zone II.

Below the LMD, the project serves 3,61,078 acres, with Zone I covering areas such as Manakondoor, Huzurabad, and Parkal, and Zone II extending to Wardhannapet, Palakurthy, and Madhira. Water distribution below the LMD began on January 9 for Zone I and January 1 for Zone II, with supply scheduled to end on March 31 for both zones.

These timelines are laid down to balance irrigation needs with the availability of water. Officials have outlined the operational plan for the Yasangi 2024-25 season, which involves a total water requirement of 77.76 TMC above the LMD and 49.89 TMC below the LMD for both Stage I and Stage II combined. Below the LMD, Stage I covers ayacut areas between km 146 and km 284, requiring 23.28 TMC, while Stage II spans km 284 to km 346, requiring 26.61 TMC. The total ayacut below the LMD amounts to 9.04 lakh acres.

Currently, the SRSP reservoir holds 72.23 TMC of water against a gross capacity of 80.50 TMC. The Mid Manair reservoir is holding 25 TMC of water out of its gross capacity of 27.5 TMC, while the Lower Manair reservoir has 21 TMC against a gross capacity of 24 TMC. A major portion of the current storage is allocated to meeting the drinking water needs of the respective areas, leaving the allocation of water for irrigation a critical and pressing issue. How much water can be spared for irrigation remains an open and contentious question, with significant implications for the farmers relying on SRSP for their livelihoods.