Don’t cultivate paddy this kharif, Andhra Pradesh tells Krishna delta farmers amid water crunch

The Andhra Pradesh government has appealed to farmers in the Krishna delta not to take up paddy cultivation during the kharif season, citing an unprecedented water shortage caused by delayed and inadequate rainfall under the influence of a Super El Niño-like weather pattern.

Addressing a press conference here on Friday (July 24, 2026), Engineer-in-Chief (Irrigation) K. Narasimha Murthy said water storage in the Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar reservoirs on the Krishna had fallen to critically low levels, the monsoon rains having failed to arrive on time. He said upstream reservoirs, including Almatti, Narayanpur and Jurala, still had around 50 TMC of vacant storage, indicating that substantial inflows into the downstream reservoirs were yet to materialise. In the prevailing conditions, any inflows reaching Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar would have to be given top priority for drinking water, he said.

Although the Pulichintala reservoir holds around 29 TMC of water, only about 25 TMC is usable. If the uncertainty in rainfall continues, this water may also have to be conserved to meet drinking water needs until June 2027, he said.

To meet the drinking water needs of the Krishna delta, the government is diverting Godavari water through the Polavaram Right Main Canal using the Pattiseema Lift Irrigation Scheme. However, inflows into the Godavari have also declined sharply, limiting the operation of the Pattiseema pumping system. All 24 pumps at Pattiseema cannot be operated because of the reduced river flows. Last week, water had to be supplemented from the Sileru, a measure that had never been required in the past. While the Pattiseema pumps earlier received sufficient water for 100 to 120 days each season, the present situation is expected to limit availability to about 60 to 70 days, Mr. Narasimha Murthy said, adding: “Supplying water to the Godavari delta ayacut remains the first priority before diverting water to other regions.”

With Godavari inflows declining, only 15 pumps at Pattiseema are working, releasing around 1,000 cusecs into the Polavaram Right Main Canal.

Mr. Narasimha expressed concern that some farmers along the Polavaram Right Main Canal were drawing water through unauthorised pumps, reducing the quantity reaching the Krishna delta canal system. This, officials said, was affecting the canal flows needed for drinking water supply.

He expressed concern that some farmers along the Polavaram Right Main Canal were drawing water through unauthorised pumps, reducing the quantity reaching the Krishna delta canal system. This, officials said, was affecting the canal flows needed for drinking water supply.

Mr. Narasimha cautioned that even if farmers used Pattiseema water now for raising paddy nurseries, they could face severe losses if Godavari inflows declined further and pumping was suspended in the coming weeks. If Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar received sufficient inflows beyond drinking water requirements, the Agriculture and Water Resources Departments would jointly prepare a scientific plan for kharif cultivation, Mr. Narasimha said.

Appealing for the cooperation of farmers, Mr. Narasimha asked them not to take up paddy cultivation in the present circumstances. He warned that without adequate reservoir storage, and if rainfall remained deficient, farmers risked losing their entire investment.

Farmers in the Krishna delta have instead been advised to opt for less water-intensive dry crops wherever feasible until the water situation improves, he added.