AP to move SC on illegal water drawing issue

Hyderabad, May 30 (UNI) The Andhra Pradesh government will move the Supreme Court to restrain Karnataka farmers from illegally drawing Tungabhadra water due to the state from the Low Level Canal (LLC).

The farmers of Rayalaseema district in Andhra Pradesh had staged several agitations against this and submitted memoranda to the government to prevent the illegal drawing of water allegedly by Karnataka farmers.

Official sources said the Andhra Pradesh Irrigation Department had intimated their counterparts in Karnataka about the issue but did not receive any response so far.

The farmers have alleged that Karnataka were channelling the water through pipes and tunnels from the canal bed.

The Andhra Pradesh government suggested that CISF personnel be posted along the LLC banks to stop farmers from illegally drawing water.

Due to insufficient supply of water, crops in about 15,000 acre of land were withering every year, the farmers pointed out.

Recently, the Kurnool District Collector held a meeting with the Collector of Bellary in Karnataka to find an amicable solution. The meeting helped to improve the situation for some time, sources said.

During the recent Kurnool Development Council meeting, members brought the problem to the notice of Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, who assured them that the government would move the apex court to get justice.

Sources said the Chief Minister had instructed the state officials concerned to file a case against Karnataka.

Dr Reddy and Irrigation Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah had also apprised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh about the matter, sources added.

UNI