Andhra Pradesh Records 51% Deficit Rainfall; Farmers Advised not to Cultivate Paddy

The Andhra Pradesh Irrigation Department has said that the El Nino effect has led to a sharp decline in rainfall across the state, resulting in significantly reduced inflows into the Krishna River. Addressing a media conference in Vijayawada today,

Andhra Pradesh Irrigation Department Engineer-in-Chief K. Narasimhamurthy said, the state has recorded a 51 per cent rainfall deficit, while the Krishna Delta has received 49 per cent less rainfall than normal.

He said, low water storage in upstream reservoirs, including Almatti, Narayanpur and Tungabhadra, means water will reach Srisailam only after these reservoirs are adequately filled.

Mr. Narasimhamurthy said the government is giving top priority to drinking water needs and is managing available water to ensure supply to villages, towns and municipalities till June 2027.

He appealed to farmers not to cultivate paddy under the present conditions, as inadequate water during the crop season could lead to heavy losses.

He advised farmers to take up less water-intensive crops and assured that the government would review the situation and announce further action if inflows into Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar improve.