Archive · 3 Aug 2026
Tungabhadra Dam at Lowest Storage in 60 Years, Water for Drinking Only
The Tungabhadra Dam in India is almost empty, the lowest it has ever been in 60 years.
Because of this, the state government says the water can only be used for drinking, not for growing crops.
Farmers in the area are worried because they need water to grow rice.
The dam has only 41 TMC feet of water, while last year it had 78 TMC feet.
The government hopes that heavy rains in the Western Ghats will fill the dam by the end of August.
Tungabhadra Dam storage is 41 TMC feet, below the 60‑year average.
Water released only for drinking; irrigation water withheld.
High Level Main Canal (HLMC) may receive about 7 TMC feet, below 30% of its allocation.
Authorities plan to fill summer storage and mini reservoirs for Rayalaseema drinking needs.
Farmers in Siriguppa taluk fear rising rice prices due to lack of irrigation water.
- Who
- Andhra Pradesh government, B. Narayana Naik (TB Dam superintendent), K. Gupta (Vasavi Rice Mill owner)
- What
- Tungabhadra Dam storage at its lowest in 60 years; water released only for drinking, not irrigation
- When
- As of Sunday, 2024
- Where
- Tungabhadra Reservoir, Anantapur, Kurnool, Rayalaseema region, Siriguppa taluk, Bellary district
- Why
- Low inflows and need to meet drinking water demands; authorities refuse irrigation release
- Current Storage
- 41 TMC feet
- Dead Storage Level
- Below usable for irrigation
- Inflows
- 26,000 cusecs
- HLMC Allocation
- 26 TMC feet (pro‑rata)
- Estimated HLMC Release
- ≈7 TMC feet
- Target Full Storage
- August end if heavy rains