The state of Telangana is grappling with an acute water shortage as nearly all major reservoirs have dried up due to a failed monsoon. This crisis affects both drinking water availability and irrigation for Rabi crops this season. Meanwhile, Bengaluru city has also been in the spotlight due to its severe water scarcity, forcing residents to pay a premium for access to water.
The Telangana agriculture department recently submitted a report to the state government, highlighting the near-drought situation caused by below-normal rainfall during the northeast monsoon season. Comparing data from previous years, this year’s northeast monsoon received only 52.70 mm of rainfall, significantly lower than the average normal rainfall of 113.20 mm.
During the January to February winter season, the actual rainfall was a mere 1.1 mm, deviating significantly from the normal 12 mm (-90.83%). As we enter the hot season (March to May), the expected rainfall should be around 3.9 mm, but so far, only 0.2 mm has been received.
Major reservoirs, including Jurala, Srisailam, and Nagarjunasagar in the Krishna basin, as well as Sriramsagar, Sripadasagar, Nizamsagar, Mid-Manair, Lower Manair, and Kadem, have almost completely dried up.
Engineering lapses in the Annaram and Sundilla barrages, part of the Kaleshwaram project on the Godavari river, have contributed to the acute water situation. Additionally, damage to the Medigadda barrage prevented water storage, leading to a lack of irrigation facilities for Kaleshwaram project crops. Even the water that reached Sripadasagar Yellampalli reservoir, Mid-Manair, and Lower Manair dams during the last rainy season is now unavailable in the Godavari basin.
Farmers have resorted to deep groundwater extraction for irrigation, resulting in a decline in the average groundwater level from 7.34 ft in February 2023 to 8.70 ft in February 2024.
Despite these challenges, Hyderabad currently does not face a major drinking water crisis, thanks to supplies from Singur and Akkampalli reservoirs.
