Use irrigation water judiciously: Jagadish asks farmers

Suryapet: Energy Minister G Jagadish Reddy said on Wednesday judicious use of water for irrigation by farmers will help them in increasing their income levels.

Speaking after inspecting the newly constructed check dams at Aipur, Kothagudem(M) and Midathanapally in Athmakur(S) mandal in the district, Reddy said Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao sanctioned check dams at a cost of Rs 120 crore in erstwhile Nalgonda district to utilise water that was hitherto going waste, for agricultural purpose and improve groundwater levels.

“The construction of 16 check dams was taken up in Suryapet district to provide irrigation facility to 700 acres. Works on six check dams taken up across Paleru Vaagu have already been completed within three months,” he said and urged farmers from the ayacut areas to stop drawing water from bore wells for agriculture.

Though Paleru stream water flowed downstream unutilised in the past, successive governments in undivided Andhra Pradesh did not take any interest to utilise the water for agriculture, he said. The Chief Minister’s dream to bring every acre of agricultural land under cultivation was taking shape due to measures taken up by his government, he said, adding that the pro-agriculture policies of the State government were aimed at improving the incomes of farmers in the State.