2 weeks ago
Telangana Plans Water For Seven Lakh Acres Despite El Nino
Telangana has received less rain because of a strong El Nino weather pattern.
The state cannot give water to every farm this season.
However, officials say they can provide water to about seven lakh acres near selected irrigation projects.
Most of this land is near projects in the Godavari river basin.
The rest is near projects in the Krishna river basin.
Officials will first consider the need for drinking water.
Water may be released for eight days and stopped for seven days.
They say this system is better for dry crops than for paddy, which needs more continuous water.
Telangana’s irrigation department plans to supply water to 7,01,063 acres during the kharif season.
Projects in the Godavari basin could cover 6,05,955 acres, while Krishna basin projects could cover 95,108 acres.
The plan follows directions from Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy to prioritize irrigation after drinking-water needs.
Around 70 tmc ft of usable reservoir storage is available, based on the estimate that one tmc ft can irrigate 10,000 acres.
Officials advised using intermittent releases for irrigated dry crops rather than water-intensive paddy.
- Who
- Telangana’s irrigation department, acting on directions from Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, is implementing the plan.
- What
- The department plans to provide irrigation water to 7,01,063 acres during the kharif season.
- Where
- The proposed irrigation covers selected project ayacuts in Telangana’s Godavari and Krishna river basins.
- When
- The plan was announced on a Wednesday during the current kharif season; agriculture data cited in the report was recorded through August 12.
- Why
- The state is responding to poor monsoon rains and a strong El Nino while using available reservoir water after accounting for drinking-water requirements.
Key facts
- Total proposed ayacut
- 7,01,063 acres
- Godavari basin coverage
- 6,05,955 acres
- Krishna basin coverage
- 95,108 acres
- Usable reservoir storage
- About 70 tmc ft
- Total cropped area as of August 12
- 1,07,17,314 acres
- Normal seasonal crop area
- 1,32,38,446 acres
- Proposed release pattern
- Water released for eight days, followed by a seven-day توقف
Quotes
Senior irrigation department official
Official from Telangana's irrigation department
“"It is likely that an on-off system will be followed. This means water is released for eight days and then stopped for seven days. Our advice is to use the released water for irrigated dry crops and not for water‑intensive paddy as the on-off system will not work for paddy."”
deccanchronicle.com
“"This decision follows directions from irrigation minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy that where possible, after taking into account drinking water requirements, water should be provided for irrigation."”
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
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