Dharapuram constituency hit by water shortage for irrigation, groundwater depletion

Dharapuram constituency faces severe water shortages, groundwater depletion, and pollution, impacting agriculture and local communities significantly.

Shortage of water for both irrigation and drinking purposes, depletion of aquifer, and pollution caused to Amaravathi river due to diversion of waste water by urban local bodies have been the major issues in Dharapuram Assembly (Reserved) segment.

About one quarter of the population in the constituency constitute SCs, and rural voters account for nearly 60 percent.

Since the rainfall accrual is low from both the Southwest and Northeast monsoons, groundwater has been overexploited in most parts of the constituency.

The Amaravathi river that runs through the constituency has been witnessing pollution due to diversion of wastewater by Dharapuram Municipality and other local bodies.

The Uppar Dam irrigates 6060 acres through the 12.47 km right flank canal and 17.29 km left flank canal.

Ramalingasamy, a farmer, rues that absence of special subsidies for agricultural activities in the dry region where paddy and sugarcane crops are raised predominantly has aggravated the predicament of the farmers further.