Paddy crop will be cultivated in nine lakh acres during this rabi season in East and West Godavari districts and transplantation of paddy saplings commenced on December 1. Cutting of paddy crop completes by March 30 and the canals will be closed by March 31. According to Water Resources Department (WRD) Dowleswaram Irrigation Circle Superintending Engineer N Krishna Rao, of the total ayacut, paddy crop will be raised in 4.4 lakh acres in Eastern and Central deltas and in 4.6 lakh acres in Western delta. As many as 83 tmcft of water is required during rabi season, of which 49 tmcft of water comes from Sileru river and 25 tmcft of water from River Godavari. Plans are afoot to fill the water gap by drawing 9 tmcft of water from drains and canals. As part of it, an amount of Rs 4 crore has been spent for construction of cross bunds, Rs 3.5 crore for oil engines and Rs 18 crore for lifts to combat water problem.