The Kakinada District Irrigation Advisory Board (IAB) on Tuesday passed a resolution to divert water from the Godavari River to the Yeleru reservoir to irrigate 53,000 acres under the ayacut during the Kharif season in Kakinada district.

A major portion of the ayacut of the Yeleru reservoir falls within the assembly segments of Pithapuram, Peddapuram and Jaggampeta in Kakinada district.

At a meeting chaired by District Collector M.N. Harendhira Prasad, the board has decided to draw Godavari water through the Purushottapatnam Lift Irrigation Scheme linked to the upstream Polavaram project.

“At least 1,000 cusecs of water will be released immediately from the dead storage level of the Yeleru reservoir before the Godavari water is drawn,” said Mr. Harendhira Prasad.

Water scarcity