The second crest gate of the Kandula Obul Reddy Gundlakamma reservoir was partially broken following flash floods in the wake of heavy rains under the influence of cyclonic Michaung, at Mallavaram in Prakasam district late on December 8 (Friday).
As a consequence, officials had to release water from the other gates of the reservoir, which resulted in inundation of the farms close to the Madiralapadu causeway. The farmers, who had been frantically trying to drain the stagnated rainwater to save the standing crops, including chilli and tobacco, were flummoxed by the development.
Visiting the reservoir on December 9 (Saturday), Andhra Pradesh Rythu Sangham’s Prakasam district secretary Vadde Hanuma Reddy demanded that all the crest gates be repaired immediately to maintain the water level in the reservoir at its full capacity of 3 tmc ft and ensure water for the crops till the end of the rabi season.
