The Andhra Pradesh State Rythu Sangham Committee has urged the government to take immediate action to protect nearly 1,200 acres of submerged agricultural land in Porumamilla mandal of Kadapa district. State President V. Krishnaiah and State Secretary K. Prabhakara Reddy submitted a memorandum to Water Resources Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu seeking urgent intervention and help for the affected farmers.
According to the committee, agricultural land belonging to 10 villages — Tekuru, Tekurupeta, Tirangalapuram, Suru Siddipalle, Dasaripalle, Thimmareddypalle, Kavalakuntla, Tokalapalle, Errasala and Korrapatipalle — was inundated after water from the Brahma Sagar reservoir entered the Porumam reservoir. The overflow, reported in late October, destroyed standing crops such as paddy, maize, jowar and vegetables. Farmers who had invested between ₹30,000 and ₹40,000 per acre lost their entire seasonal income, leaving hundreds of small and marginal farmers in dire straits.
Rythu Sangham leaders blamed the incident on alleged mismanagement by Telugu Ganga officials, saying water was stored in Porumamilla reservoir far beyond its capacity, while supplies were diverted to Badvel reservoir and other downstream systems. While officials earlier highlighted the successful filling of the Brahma Sagar and extended the benefits of irrigation in its ayacut, the organization said non-ayacut farmers suffered severe losses due to poor regulation of water levels.
The committee called for strict regulation of storage levels in the Brahma Sagar and Porumamilla reservoirs to prevent future floods. If permanent conservation was not feasible, it urged the government to acquire submerged patta land under the Land Acquisition Act 2013 and offer fair compensation. She also asked for immediate financial assistance of at least ₹30,000 per acre for farmers who lost their crops and pointed out that hundreds of families in Porumamilla mandal are now facing a severe livelihood crisis.
Published – 17 Nov 2025 19:36 IST
