Heavy Rains Swell Pranahita River, Border Boat Services Halted in Telangana
HYDERABAD: Heavy upstream rainfall has pushed up water levels in the Pranahita river, sending excess water into the Godavari. The river has reached the Pushkara Ghats at Thummidihatti in Kautala mandal, forcing authorities to suspend country boat services to villages along the Maharashtra border due to the strong current.
Officials withdrew country boats operating between Telangana and Maharashtra after the river swelled. Backwaters from the Pranahita have also entered the Bokkivagu stream in the Sirpur (T) Assembly constituency.
Survey work halted due to rising river
Engineers have paused survey work for the proposed Pranahita-Chevella project for the past 10 days because high water levels have made field operations unsafe.
The rising river has also renewed concerns among residents. During last year’s monsoon, flooded streams and rivulets cut off road access to several villages. Backwaters also submerged agricultural fields in parts of Bejjur and Penchikalpet mandals along the Pranahita.
Farmers prepare for paddy cultivation
Farmers said the recent rainfall has provided enough moisture to sow cotton and red gram. However, they said paddy cultivation will need more water because the crop mainly depends on tank irrigation.
As tanks continue to fill, farmers in Penchikalpet, Bejjur, Dahegaon and Kautala mandals are getting ready to begin paddy cultivation.
Soyam Chinnaiah, sarpanch of Sulugupalli village in Bejjur mandal, said, “Adivasis traditionally cultivate rain-fed paddy known as Alukudu or Kareda, similar to the method followed by tribal communities in Chhattisgarh, in areas without irrigation facilities.”
He added, “After planting, Adivasi farmers allow the crop to grow naturally. Cotton is the main crop in the Sirpur (T) Assembly constituency, followed by paddy.”
Chinnaiah said local Adivasi farmers started sowing cotton after last week’s heavy rains. They are now preparing to begin paddy cultivation over the coming days.
He also said farmers in the region will receive irrigation water once the proposed Pranahita-Chevella barrage is completed.
