Pattiseema To Finally Become Operational

It’s been nearly six years since the right canal of the Polavaram project was fully supplied with water through the Pattiseema lifting scheme. Currently, farmers are eagerly awaiting the start of the Kharif season and the support from the newly formed TDP coalition government for irrigation through Pattiseema.

The authorities, aligned with the farmers’ aspirations and government policies, are preparing to manage water levels accordingly. They are closely monitoring the Godavari water levels and plan to use the Pattiseema lifts for irrigation as directed by higher authorities.

During the previous TDP regime, the Pattiseema lift irrigation scheme was constructed in a record time and by 2019, it successfully provided 305.07 TMCs of water, irrigating about 4 lakh acres in the Krishna Rayalaseema and combined West Godavari districts. This allowed farmers to cultivate three crops a year.

However, during the YCP regime, water distribution from Pattiseema significantly reduced, with 4.5424 TMCs released from June 2020 to November 2024, 1.6417 TMCs in 2021, and 58.7421 TMCs in 2023. This scarcity left farmers of the 4 lakh acres disappointed.

With the TDP coalition government now in place, farmers are hopeful for better irrigation support from Pattiseema. Currently, the water level in the Godavari at Pattiseema is only 13.28 meters. Due to insufficient rainfall, the water level has not risen enough to enable irrigation.

However, if the Godavari water level increases above 14 meters, there is a possibility of water release, giving farmers hope that their cotton fields will be ready before the rains.