13 hrs ago
Low Tungabhadra Levels Deepen Water Crisis in Kurnool
Kurnool and Nandyal districts are facing very dry conditions because the monsoon has brought too little rain.
The Tungabhadra River and nearby reservoirs have much less water than expected.
This means canals cannot deliver enough water to many farms.
Paddy nurseries are drying, and cotton, maize and red gram crops are struggling.
Wells are also getting lower, making drinking water harder to supply in some places.
Villagers say large-scale sand digging may reduce groundwater and harm nature.
Officials are giving drinking water priority over farm irrigation.
Farmers and scientists are looking for rain and crops that need less water.
Rainfall deficits have reached 55.3% in Nandyal and 46.7% in Kurnool districts.
Low inflows into the Tungabhadra and Srisailam reservoirs are disrupting irrigation supplies.
The KC Canal system is failing to serve lower stretches, affecting crops across nearly five lakh acres directly and indirectly.
Villagers allege that sand excavation at Munagalapadu and Panchalingala is worsening groundwater and ecological damage.
Authorities are prioritising drinking water while farmers seek rain, conservation measures and support for drought-tolerant crops.
- Who
- Farmers, villagers, nature lovers and officials in Kurnool and Nandyal districts are affected.
- What
- Severe water shortages, low river and reservoir levels, stressed crops and alleged unauthorised sand excavation are worsening conditions.
- Where
- Kurnool and Nandyal districts, including stretches of the Tungabhadra River and the KC Canal system.
- When
- The situation was reported after rainfall data through the first week of September showed major deficits.
- Why
- A disappointing southwest monsoon has reduced rainfall, reservoir inflows, soil moisture and groundwater levels.
Concerns About Sand Excavation
Administrative Water Priorities
Sand excavation
Concerns About Sand Excavation
Villagers, farmers and nature lovers allege that indiscriminate excavation at Munagalapadu and Panchalingala is illegal or unauthorised and threatens groundwater recharge and local ecology.
Administrative Water Priorities
The article reports that alleged illegal sand transportation has been facilitated by low river levels, while authorities are monitoring water stocks and have not been reported as giving a response to the excavation allegations.
Water allocation
Concerns About Sand Excavation
Farmers need irrigation water to protect crops and maintain yields, and report drying paddy nurseries, weak cotton development and delayed maize and red gram sowing.
Administrative Water Priorities
Authorities are prioritising drinking water because poor inflows into the Tungabhadra and Srisailam reservoirs have limited supplies.
Crop adaptation
Concerns About Sand Excavation
Farmers say switching to drought-tolerant and less water-intensive crops is difficult while water availability remains uncertain.
Administrative Water Priorities
Agricultural scientists are promoting drought-tolerant and less water-intensive crops as a response to the dry conditions.
Key facts
- Nandyal rainfall deficit
- 55.3% through the first week of September
- Kurnool rainfall deficit
- 46.7% through the first week of September
- KC Canal direct coverage
- Nearly three lakh acres
- KC Canal indirect coverage
- Another two lakh acres
- KC Canal designed supply
- 31.90 TMC
- Affected crops
- Cotton, paddy, maize and red gram
- Water priority
- Authorities are prioritising drinking water over irrigation
Sources
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