AP govt initiative for drought relief

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Kadiri (Anantapur): Farm pond scheme ‘Panta Sanjeevani’ is proving to be a great boon for the farmers of Rayalaseema and particularly to the farmers of Anantapur district. Under the project, farm ponds are being sanctioned to store water for crops as well as for storage of rain water during rainy season and for recharging of groundwater. 

 

• The farm pond scheme helps in tackling the receding groundwater levels via water harvesting, besides offering water to farming community from nearby borewells
• The project is mainly for small and marginal farmers having land holdings up to five acres 
• The ponds provide a breather to groundnut farmers who go through difficult times due to scanty rainfall

The district has semi-arid climate with the average rainfall 381 mm being recorded every year. Anantapur tops the list of districts which are sanctioned the highest number of farm ponds. Farmers in 63 mandals of the district are clamouring for farm ponds which are proving to be a boon for farm operations. In some mandals including Kadiri and Mudigubba, farmers are elated over the water springs emanating from their ponds and filling them to a large extent. 

 

This development in some mandals is encouraging other farmers to take advantage of the grandiose scheme introduced by the State government. District Collector Kona Sasidhar is keen on promoting farm ponds in the district. This measure he believes would turn the district prosperous and help combat drought conditions effectively. 

 

As of now, 807 farm ponds have been dug by the beneficiaries spread over several mandals while 32,099 ponds are in progress and are in various stages of completion. Out of one lakh ponds sanctioned, 95,088 ponds are expected to be dug during 2016-17 financial year. 

 

The demand for the farm ponds in Rayalaseema is huge when compared to coastal region where the water scenario is different. After Anantapur, Chittoor bagged 65,698 farm ponds, Kurnool-62,747 and Kadapa-36,359. Only Vizianagaram was sanctioned the highest with 28,286 farm ponds. These farm ponds are expected to revolutionise water management systems and conservation of rain water. The scheme promotes farming in dry spells and also provides a breather to groundnut farmers who go through difficult times due to scanty rainfall. 

 

Each unit costs Rs 60,000 to Rs 70,000 and the government has earmarked Rs 764.50 crore for Anantapur district alone for digging the ambitious one lakh farm ponds. The volume of water from the natural water springs may differ from area to area but the ponds are expected to facilitate storage of natural spring water as well as rain water during rainy seasons. The water ponds would be like water reservoirs helping farmers to tide over crop irrigation problems for crops that require minimum quantity of water for survival.

 

DWMA (District Water Management Agency) project director Venkateswara Rao told ‘The Hans India’ that farmers are making a bee line for the farm ponds. The project is mainly for small and marginal farmers having land holdings up to 5 acres of agricultural land. SC, ST and women farmers and physically challenged would get more financial benefits, he added.

 

The scheme which was grounded in December 2015 is in great demand and already 15,000 farmers have almost completed digging their ponds. By March-end, about 40,000 farmers are expected to utilise the scheme and dig ponds in their farms. The pond size is 10x10 bottom size and top 14x14 with two metres depth. The pond will facilitate storage of 3 tmc ft water. The government expects groundwater to be recharged by the water storage in the ponds.

 

Anantha Mathsyaraju, a farmer in Kadiri is excited with water spring filling his pond up to 15 ft. He said the water would help irrigate horticulture crops in his 5 acre land. Not only the scheme is a boon to the farmers but also generates employment to agriculture labourers. The scheme if implemented well would transform the rural landscape of the district, he added. 

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Collector Siddarth Jain on Monday said that Rs. 100 crore would be spent on the drought relief works in Chittoor district with an action plan for the next three months. The Collector was inspecting the Neeru-Chettu works in Gangadhara Nellore, Vedurukuppam and SR Puram mandals.

Speaking to the officials of the MGNREGS, Rural Water Supply and Panchayat Raj wings, Mr Siddarth Jain said that steps were taken to provide Rs. 200 each to the job-card holders. He instructed the officials to supply drinking water and buttermilk to the NREGS workers in view of the heat wave conditions.

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Andhra Pradesh government has taken further measures in the  drought affected areas under drought relief works.

Chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu today held a meeting with senior officials of various departments and directed them to take war footing steps in helping  the drought victims. There should be coordination between the departments in taking up drought relief works, he said.

He also directed the  concerned departments to take steps in solving drinking water problem, fodder to cattle and water for irrigation.

To come over the fodder problem, the chief minister said fodder banks should be set up in every village to meet the fodder demand. The Fodder bank would be set up in 50 acres of  land in every village. For this the government would take land for rent if necessary for providing fodder to cattle, he said.

The chief minister asked the  agriculture and civil supplies officials to ensure that farmers got  the minimum support price for their produce as collection of rabi paddy has just now begin in the districts of Nellore , East and West Godavari districts. The district collectors should monitor in ensuring minimum support price for farmers, he said.(NSS)