3 weeks ago
Wanaparthy Collector Warns Groundwater Drop, Urges Crop Shift
A district leader in India, called the collector, talked to farmers about water problems.
He said there is not enough water because of a weather pattern called El Niño.
The government decided not to give water for farming for the next two weeks.
The water that is available will be saved for people to drink.
The underground water is also getting lower and lower.
Last year, underground water was found about 5 metres down, and now it may go even deeper.
If it does not rain, the water situation could get worse.
Not having enough water can also make electricity harder to produce.
So farmers are being told to grow crops that need less water.
Good crops to grow now include black gram, groundnut, castor, and vegetables.
This way, farmers can still earn money without using too much water.
District collector Adarsh Surabhi warned of impending water scarcity in Wanaparthy due to El Niño conditions.
The Irrigation department will not release water for agricultural purposes for the next 15 days because storage in the Jurala Project and Kalwakurthy Lift Irrigation scheme is insufficient.
Water releases will continue only for drinking water needs and will halt once flood inflow subsides.
Groundwater, which stood at a depth of 5.3 metres in July last year, is likely to drop further by month-end and could worsen without rainfall.
Farmers were advised to shift from paddy to less water-intensive crops such as black gram, groundnut, castor, vegetables, and oil palm.
- Who
- Wanaparthy district collector Adarsh Surabhi and the district's farmers
- What
- A warning that groundwater levels will likely drop and a decision to halt irrigation water releases for 15 days, with advice to grow less water-intensive crops
- Where
- Wanaparthy district, Telangana, India
- When
- Announced on a Friday, with groundwater expected to drop further by month-end
- Why
- El Niño conditions, insufficient rainfall, and low storage in the Jurala Project and Kalwakurthy Lift Irrigation scheme
Key facts
- District
- Wanaparthy
- Collector
- Adarsh Surabhi
- Irrigation halt duration
- 15 days
- Affected water sources
- Jurala Project and Kalwakurthy Lift Irrigation (KLI) scheme
- Groundwater level (July last year)
- 5.3 metres depth
- Cause
- El Niño and lack of rainfall
- Recommended crops
- Black gram, groundnut, castor, vegetables, oil palm
- Additional risk
- Possible impact on power generation and electricity supply
Quotes
Adarsh Surabhi
District Collector of Wanaparthy
“He stated that the Irrigation department has decided not to release water for agricultural purposes for the next 15 days, as current storage levels in the Jurala Project and the Kalwakurthy Lift Irrigation (KLI) scheme are insufficient.”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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