Venkatapur farmers stage rasta-roko demanding Godavari water for village tanks

Farmers of Venkatapur village in Chegunta mandal staged a rasta-roko on the Gajwel–Ramayampet road, demanding release of Godavari water into village tanks. The protest was withdrawn after irrigation officials assured water supply.

Medak: Farmers of Venkatapur in Chegunta mandal staged a rasta-roko at Pulimamidi Junction on the Gajwel-Ramayampet road on Friday, demanding that the Irrigation Department impound village tanks with Godavari water.

Though water was flowing close to the village through Kondapochamma canals, the village tanks were not connected to the lakes, depriving farmers of irrigation water. The lakes in the village have an ayacut of around 300 acres.

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Despite repeated appeals, irrigation officials failed to release the water, prompting farmers to block the road for nearly three hours. The farmers brought pesticide bottles with them and threatened to consume pesticide unless officials assured them of releasing water into the lakes.

The farmers withdrew the protest only after irrigation officials assured them that the lakes would be impounded with Godavari water. Traffic came to a standstill on both sides of the road.