Poor monsoon and low reservoir levels in Krishna river system has forced the Krishna River Management Board to make it clear there would be no water for crops served by the river in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

This decision highlights the severity of the situation, leaving farmers in both the States in a quandary.

Factoring the low water levels in major reservoirs of Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar, and a poor monsoon adding to the woes of both States, the working Group of the Board decided that the available water would be required for drinking water supplies.

Due to prolonged phase of weak monsoon in both States and poor inflows from the river catchment areas, the water level is down to 510 ft in Nagarjunasagar as against the full reservoir level of 590 ft, and 802 ft in Srisailam dam (FRL of 885 ft), with the latter stated to be the lowest in the past few decades.

Majority of the 34 reservoirs on Krishna and Godavari river system have received poor inflows this monsoon from upper riparian States of Karnataka and Maharashtra.

Poor water levels, following failure of the monsoon, have had a telling impact on kharif sowings. With the board making it clear that allocation would be made only for drinking purpose, farmers will have to wait for rains in the upstream.

Sowings in at least 40 lakh acres in five districts (three in Andhra Pradesh and two in Telangana), will be adversely impacted. Sowings in Krishna, Guntur and Prakasam districts in Andhra Pradesh and Nalgonda and Khammam districts in Telangana were far below normal.

Latest figures available with the Agriculture Departments show a dismal state of affairs. “They will have to wait through this month. If we get rains, we can hope for late sowings this month,” a Telangana Government official said.

Of the average cropped area of 42.55 lakh hectares in kharif, Andhra Pradesh farmers covered only 12.68 lakh hectares by now as against the as-on-date average of 20 lakh ha. Areas under the Krishna Delta are among the worst impacted. Those who had already cultivated are experiencing wilting due to inadequate water.

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