The Irrigation Engineers and remote sensing experts led by District Collector R. Mahesh Kumar began an exercise on Tuesday, to identify the scientific reasons behind the mass mortality of coconut trees along the Sankaraguptam drain in the Razole assembly constituency of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Konaseema district.
Coconut trees along the banks of the Sankarguptam natural drain have died in nine villages in Malkipuram and Maamidikuduru mandals, due to the high salinity level of the drain water. The drain flows for about 22 kilometres before it confluences with Vynateya, a branch of the river Godavari, which later confluences with the Bay of Bengal.
On November 26, Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan had inspected the coconut orchards suffering from stunted growth and the natural flow of the Sankaraguptam drain.
On Tuesday, Mr. Mahesh Kumar asked irrigation engineers to submit their observations, in addition to having detailed discussions with the remote sensing experts, to identify the exact areas being affected along the drain.
Executive Engineer (Drains) M. V. V. Kishore and Dowleswaram Irrigation Circle Superintendent Engineer Mr. Gopinath were also present.
Mr. Mahesh Kumar has directed the irrigation engineers to prepare an action plan soon to submit to Mr. Pawan Kalyan.
Published – December 02, 2025 06:45 pm IST
