Combined with the impact of El Nino and severe power cuts, paddy farmers are facing severe irrigation problems just as their crops are ready for harvest. Due to the lack of 24-hour electricity, farmers are facing immense hardships, with farmer and local ward member Tummala Mahender Reddy resorting to watering his paddy crop using water tankers in Thimmapuram village.
Speaking to Trinet News on September 5, Tummala Mahender Reddy, a ward member of the Thimmapuram Gram Panchayat in Atmakur (M) mandal, Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district, expressed anguish over the situation. He explained that due to depleting groundwater levels in borewells, low voltage, power cuts, and a lack of rainfall, water is unavailable just as the crop is reaching maturity, forcing him to use water tankers.
Mahender Reddy lamented that he is currently purchasing and pouring at least 40 to 50 tanker loads of water a day. Groundwater levels have drastically dropped, and the promised 24-hour agricultural power supply has been reduced to 12 hours. Frequent outages during these 12 hours, compounded by low voltage that prevents motors from running properly, have resulted in inadequate water for the paddy fields. Consequently, he is forced to irrigate the crop using tankers, though he expressed deep sorrow that even this is not providing sufficient water.
Mahender Reddy expressed deep frustration, alleging that the government merely claims to be a people's government while doing nothing tangible for the welfare of farmers.
