Godavari Water Available, Yet Farmers Struggle for Irrigation: Kotha Prabhakar Reddy

BRS leader and Dubbak MLA Kotha Prabhakar Reddy has questioned why irrigation project motors remain switched off despite the Godavari River carrying abundant water. He urged the government to address electricity cuts and irrigation shortages immediately to protect farmers’ standing crops.

Demanding at least 15 hours of electricity supply for agriculture, Prabhakar Reddy called on Minister Vivek Venkataswamy to intervene, warning that farmers were facing serious difficulties because of inadequate power and irrigation facilities.

The MLA raised the issues while attending a programme at Sri Ramalingeshwara Function Hall in Nagaram village of Akkannapet–Bhoompally mandal. Along with the minister, he distributed house allotment certificates to double-bedroom housing beneficiaries and cheques under the Kalyana Lakshmi and Shaadi Mubarak schemes.

Prabhakar Reddy praised former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) for providing double-bedroom houses to poor families without any financial burden on beneficiaries. He said the previous BRS government had played a major role in fulfilling the dream of homeownership for economically weaker sections.

He suggested distributing house certificates mandal-wise for the convenience of beneficiaries. He also appealed to the district collector to ensure that eligible poor families received their benefits without political discrimination, particularly protecting those already residing in the allotted houses from injustice.

Highlighting the irrigation crisis, Prabhakar Reddy recalled that Godavari water had transformed the Koodavelli stream into a lifeline during the BRS government’s tenure. He said water from Mallanna Sagar and Konda Pochamma Sagar had helped fill tanks and canals, supporting cultivation even during summer.

He expressed disappointment that irrigation water was not being released despite adequate water availability in the river, leaving crops vulnerable to drying up amid frequent power cuts.

Farmers raised slogans protesting electricity shortages as the minister arrived at the event. Prabhakar Reddy interacted with them and submitted a representation highlighting their grievances.

He demanded the immediate release of water from Mallanna Sagar and Konda Pochamma Sagar, along with uninterrupted electricity for agricultural motors, to safeguard crops and protect farmers’ livelihoods.