Gorle Ramu Naidu, Girijala Bhaskara Rao and many more small farmers of Budarayavalasa in Merakamudidam mandal are happy that Dasari Cheruvu, a parched mini-irrigation tank in an extent of six acres, has adequate water even during peak summer for cattle and crops. The mandal recorded 20 mm of rainfall in March and an excess of 42.4 per cent against the normal of 137.7mm in April.
With the increase in groundwater table, the farmers have raised groundnut, sesamum and vegetables that is in fact a distant dream during rabi season. Though the registered ayacut under the tank is 20 acres, it is now able to supply water to 50 acres.
With the deepening of the tank under Neeru-Chettu, which is linked with MNREGS, the groundwater table has increased considerably and with it all the three borewells and four open wells in the village have sufficient water.
According to DWMA officials, work on deepening of the tank has been taken up with an estimated cost of Rs. 19 lakh in February. Some 370 farm labours were engaged for seven weeks and paid them Rs. 9, 61,857 as wages.
