Hyderabad: While Telangana and Andhra Pradesh governments have been squabbling over Krishna water from Nagarjunasagar, scientists stress on the need for monitoring the use of water from irrigation projects.

An Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University assessment of water utilisation from Nagarjunasagar Left Canal found that a lot more water is being used for irrigation than what is actually required.

The study, carried out using remote sensing and GIS technology, also found yields to be higher when water was intermittently supplied. This way, farmers of AP might actually benefit from the temporary suspension of water supply.

The ANGRAU study assessed water usage in different areas irrigated by the Nagarjunasagar Left Canal.

The left branch irrigates Nalgonda, Khammam, Krishna and West Godavari districts.

Water utilisation was measured against various parameters in Nalgonda and scientists found that the overall consumption rate of water was quite high.

“We found that the utilisation of water was quite high when compared with the actual scientific requirement according to the atmospheric conditions and other factors. This is due to lack of proper monitoring and water management. We wanted to show that irrigation efficiency can be increased using remote sensing,” said Dr K. Avil Kumar, principal scientist, Water Technology Centre, ANGRAU.

Scientists also reported that though consumption of water had risen in agricultural fields, the yield of crops had fallen.

Earlier, a joint study by the Union ministry of water resources and the National Remote Sensing Centre on the Left Canal had made similar observations. It was also observed that in some years, more water was released than in other years during the same crop season.

However, scientists categorically state that there is no comparison between the Left Canal and Right Canal in the context of the recent controversy over water sharing.