Kurnool district bans water diversion to secure drinking supply

District Collector A. Siri has ordered officials to make sure Kurnool does not run out of drinking water until next June. Water from the Gajuladinne and Sunkesula projects must go only to homes and must not be used to water crops.

Official Instructions

Low rainfall in the area forced this decision. Teams of officers from revenue, agriculture, and horticulture will visit farmers to explain the new rules. Meanwhile, municipal, rural water supply, and irrigation departments must fill up all summer storage tanks and pull water from the Tungabhadra and Handri-Neeva projects for public use.

City Warnings

Kurnool Municipal Corporation Commissioner Challa Obulesu inspected the Sunkesula Reservoir and the Munagalapadu summer storage tank. He warned that anyone caught illegally diverting water to farms will face legal trouble and have their pumps seized. He also told teams to speed up work on the new ₹82 crore pipeline linking Sunkesula to the Munagalapadu tank.

Context

District administrations often restrict irrigation supplies during low-rainfall years to protect basic civic water needs. Securing municipal reserves early helps prevent severe dry-season shortages in growing urban and rural areas.