Andhra Pradesh Urges Krishna Delta Farmers to Skip Paddy as Water Crisis Worsens

The Andhra Pradesh government has appealed to farmers in the Krishna delta to avoid paddy cultivation during the kharif season, citing a severe water shortage caused by delayed and inadequate rainfall under the influence of a super El Niño-like weather pattern.

Addressing a press conference on July 24, 2026, Engineer-in-Chief (Irrigation) K. Narasimha Murthy said water storage in the Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar reservoirs on the Krishna River has fallen to critically low levels as monsoon rains failed to arrive on time. He noted that upstream reservoirs such as Almatti, Narayanpur and Jurala still have about 50 TMC of vacant storage, indicating that substantial inflows into downstream reservoirs have not yet materialised. Under current conditions, any inflows reaching Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar will be prioritised for drinking water, he said.

Although the Pulichintala reservoir holds around 29 TMC of water, only about 25 TMC is usable. If the rainfall deficit continues, this water may also need to be conserved to meet drinking water needs until June 2027, Mr. Narasimha Murthy added.

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. Only 15 of the 24 pumps are currently working, releasing around 1,000 cusecs into the canal. Last week, water had to be supplemented from the Sileru, a measure that had never been required before. While the Pattiseema pumps previously received sufficient water for 100 to 120 days each season, the current situation is expected to limit availability to about 60 to 70 days, Mr. Narasimha Murthy said. He stressed that supplying water to the Godavari delta ayacut remains the first priority before diverting water to other regions.

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

He cautioned that even if farmers use Pattiseema water now for paddy nurseries, they could face severe losses if Godavari inflows decline further and pumping is suspended in the coming weeks. If Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar receive sufficient inflows beyond drinking water requirements, the Agriculture and Water Resources Departments will jointly prepare a scientific plan for kharif cultivation, he said.

Appealing for farmers' cooperation, Mr. Narasimha urged them not to take up paddy cultivation under the present circumstances. He warned that without adequate reservoir storage, and if rainfall remains deficient, farmers risk losing their entire investment. Instead, farmers in the Krishna delta have been advised to opt for less water-intensive dry crops wherever feasible until the water situation improves.