Kakinada, Jan 31st: With a view of detecting the pilferage of water from the water sources in East Godavari, a team of special officers was deployed by the government. The team has so far made several visits to the selected areas under Yeleru reservoir for raising paddy during Rabi season. To review their work, the collector, Mr. Gopala Krishna Dwevedi held a meeting with the team and other concerned at the collectorate here on Sunday. The Collector was briefed that some of the farmers under the Yeleru limits were involved in pilfering water from the Yeleru drains and canals by using 113 oil engines  and 119 electrical motors.

The team explained the collector that though the farmers and their farm lands were not eligible for raising paddy in rabi by using the Yeleru water, they are illegally lifting water for cultivation for the last few weeks, the team explained. As per the rules, they seized the oil engines and cut the power supply to the electrical motors, and by then they could increase the water supply to nearly 60 cusecs from the reservoir, the team added. Collector appreciated the efforts of the team and directed them to remove the engines with the help of cranes from the places and book cases on the owners of the machinery.