Even as the YSR Congress Party has described the Pattiseema Lift Irrigation Scheme on the Godavari River as a wasteful project built by the previous Telugu Desam Party government for financial gain, its own leader and former Gannavaram MLA Vallabhaneni Vamsi has praised the project.
On Thursday, Vamsi wrote to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, urging him to ensure the continued supply of irrigation water from the Pattiseema project through the Polavaram Right Main Canal to farmers in the upland areas of the Gannavaram constituency.
He noted that for the past 11 years, Godavari water has been diverted to the Krishna River through the Pattiseema Lift Irrigation Scheme, providing crucial support to farmers in the Krishna Delta.
According to him, the project has been particularly beneficial during drought years and periods of deficient rainfall.
Vamsi recalled that while serving as Gannavaram MLA in 2015, he had requested the then chief minister, Chandrababu Naidu, to allow nearby upland villages to use water from the Polavaram Right Canal.
He said Naidu had accepted the proposal, recognising that local farmers had voluntarily given their land for the construction of the canal.
Following the approval, Vamsi said he had spent his own money to install more than 500 electric pump sets at several locations across Bapulapadu, Gannavaram, Unguturu and Vijayawada Rural mandals.
He said the initiative supplied irrigation water to farmers and helped fill village tanks, preventing drinking water shortages.
According to Vamsi, the arrangement greatly benefited farmers in the upland regions and ensured uninterrupted water supply to both delta and upland areas for nine of his 10 years as MLA.
He alleged that some public representatives and officials from the Irrigation, Electricity and Vigilance departments had opposed the diversion of Pattiseema water to upland areas and had even disconnected power supply to the pump sets.
However, after the matter was brought to Chandrababu Naidu’s attention, the then chief minister intervened and ensured that farmers continued to receive water. Vamsi said the practice also continued during the previous YSRCP government.
He alleged that this year, however, irrigation officials, with police support, had prevented the operation of the pump sets, effectively stopping the supply of Pattiseema water to upland areas.
Expressing concern over drought conditions aggravated by the effects of El Niño, Vamsi said stopping the water supply would severely affect farmers who were already facing water scarcity.
He urged the chief minister to adopt a humanitarian approach and direct irrigation officials to immediately restore water access in the interests of farmers.
