Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s promise to the farmers of twin Godavari districts is all set to come under litmus test. About 10 lakh acres of Rabi crop of paddy needed water. But, the existing water levels is reportedly not enough to provide water to not more than 3 lakh acres in East and West Godavari districts. Diversion of Godavari River water through the Pattiseema Lift Irrigation Scheme is increasingly getting projects for the water shortage in Godavari Delta, that could trigger anti-TDP sentiments.

Hyderabad: Water scarcity to the Rabi crop (second crop) in Godavari Delta is all set to become a litmus test to the ruling TDP government and its Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. According to irrigation department sources, the second crop in East and West Godavari districts is spread in about 10 lakh acres, which is now hunted by the scarcity of water in the river. It is for the first time that the second crop under the Godavari Delta is facing water crisis of such magnitude unknown anytime in the recent past. As of now the water availability is pegged at sufficient in meeting the demand of only about 2.5 to 3 lakh acres. This means, the fate of about 6.5 to 7 lakh acres of standing crops would be in doll drums.

While this is so, efforts are on to make it a political issues by the opposition YSRP and Congress parties. Playing on the sentiments of the farming community, the opposition party’s have stepped up anti against the government. The YSRCP has already picked up the issue blaming that the diversion of Godavari River Waters to Krishna Delta though Pattiseema Lift Irrigation Scheme was the main cause for the present crisis in the Godavari Delta.

This has turned into a politically sensitive issue for the ruling party leaders and the government. For, both the Godavari districts had elected the TDP candidates in majority assembly segments in last general elections. And, the Chief Minister, in particular, had time and again thanked the West Godavari for election his party candidates in all the assembly segments in the district. Prior to proposing the Pattiseema Lift Irrigation Scheme, Naidu made it clear that the interests of the farmers in the Godavari Delta would not be compromised at any cost and not a single drop of water from the Godavari River would be taken, if they adversely affect the Godavari Delta farmers. He further underlined the Pattiseema Lift Irrigation Scheme was meant only to lift the flood waters in the Godavari River, above the 14 ft. level. Not enough, he also promised to provide water to the patch of land located at the tail end in the Godavari Delta. For this, Naidu and the Water Resources Minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao had promised to bring water from Sileru project to meet the water demands of the second crop.

Following this, as usual, the farmers had gone ahead with their sowing activity for the second crop in the area. Now, the situation is posing a problem to the irrigation department officials. Realizing that the water scarcity would spell a doom to its image, the government has announced that it has taken up the issue with the neighboring Odisha to release water from the Balimela Hydroelectric Power Project. However, given drought situation and the scarcity of water situation, officials in the Interstate projects department expressed doubts on Odisha conceding the request of AP. Because, the water from Balimela Hydroelectric Power Project is also used to provide water to the irrigation under Potteru, a tributary of Sabari river basin. “If the existing water levels in the Godavari River from Sileru, the there are only one or two alternatives temporarily available to save the crops. But, if new inflows are not received into the Godavari River in next 15 to 20 days, then things would go from bad to worse,” the sources added.