Tension prevailed at C Rayavaram village of Yeleswaram mandal in East Godavari district on Wednesday as farmers removed mud block placed on Yeleru left canal which supplies water to Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC).
The authorities have blocked canal with mud to carry out repair works at the canal and water was stopped from Yeleru project.
The farmers arrived at Yeleru left canal at C Rayavaram and removed the mud block alleging that their crops will be affected. Farmers from Prathipadu and Rowthulapudi mandals depend on water coming from the left canal to irrigate their fields.
It is also alleged that some farmers lift water from the left canal to irrigate their fields. Due to the blocking of water from Yeleru left canal, the farmers arrived at Rayavaram along with Prathipadu MLA Varupula Subba Rao and removed the mud block. Peddapuram RDO arrived at the spot and held talks with GVMC officials and project authorities.
The authorities have assured the farmers that they would release water from March 16 and pacified them. The Yeleru ayacut caters to the needs of 67,000 acres in Prathipadu, Kirlapudi, Peddapuram, Pithapuram and Gollaprolu mandals. While only 6,150 acres in Yeleswaram and Prathipadu mandals falls under the ayacut.
Though the irrigation authorities gave permission for cultivation in the entire ayacut area, but there is no sufficient water available.