Telangana, India, is grappling with a dire water crisis as almost all major reservoirs approach depletion, threatening both agricultural irrigation and drinking water supplies across the state. Reports from the state agriculture department indicate that the ongoing Rabi season is particularly affected by the acute water shortage, exacerbated by below-normal rainfall during the northeast monsoon season.
The deficit rainfall during the northeast monsoon season, from October to December, has been significant, with actual rainfall measuring only 52.70 mm compared to the normal average of 113.20 mm—a deficit of -53.45%. Additionally, the winter season received only 1.1 mm of rainfall, drastically lower than the expected 12 mm, marking a deviation of -90.83%. As the hot season approaches, rainfall levels remain alarmingly low, with only 0.2 mm recorded against an expected 3.9 mm between March and May.
Water levels in major reservoirs such as Jurala, Srisailam, Nagarjunasagar, Sriramsagar, Sripadasagar, Nizamsagar, Mid-Manair, Lower Manair, and Kadem have plummeted to critical levels. For example, Nagarjunasagar currently holds only 137.76 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) of water out of its total capacity of 312.04 TMC. Similarly, Srisailam and Sripada Sagar Yellampalli project are experiencing severe deficits, with water availability at 34.65 TMC and 8.15 TMC respectively, against their respective total capacities.
The cumulative storage in all major reservoirs as of March 27 stands at 287.06 TMC, a stark decline from 432.13 TMC recorded on the same day last year. Contributing to the crisis are structural damages to Medigadda barrage and engineering lapses in Annaram and Sundilla barrages, part of the Kaleshwaram project on the Godavari river. Water could not be adequately stored due to these issues, leading to a shortfall in irrigation facilities and exacerbating the situation.
Farmers are bearing the brunt of the water scarcity, resorting to groundwater irrigation which further depletes already dwindling groundwater levels. Despite warnings, many farmers have cultivated high-water consuming crops like paddy and maize, exacerbating the strain on water resources. Drinking water shortages are also rampant, especially in northern Telangana districts like Adilabad, Karimnagar, and Nizamabad, where reports indicate acute shortages due to insufficient supplies through Mission Bhagiratha, the piped water supply scheme.
In response to the crisis, the state government has allocated ₹140 crore for a summer contingency plan to mitigate drinking water shortages. District collectors have been instructed to utilize discretionary funds to ensure adequate water supply to rural areas. While authorities attempt to address the crisis, the situation remains precarious, underscoring the urgent need for sustainable water management strategies to mitigate future risks.
