Notwithstanding the good rainfall recorded across Telangana so far this monsoon season, water storage position in minor irrigation tanks is very poor as only about 5% of the total 44,180 water bodies have received surplus inflows.
“Technically, the rainfall recorded till August 29 is just 8% below the normal, but at the same time it is 33% higher compared to the same period last year. However, it is not reflected in the water holding of minor irrigation tanks as two long dry spells during July-August period have watered down the impact of good rains as most of it has seeped into soil or the run-off has not been sufficient to reach the water bodies,” explained a senior Irrigation Department official.
Against the normal rainfall of 568.3 mm from June 1 to August 29, the actual rainfall has been 521.3 mm with 100 out of 584 mandals in the State recording excess, 20% or more higher than the normal rain.
It has been normal, 19% higher or lesser than normal, in 310 mandals while it has been deficit, less than normal by 20% to 59%, in another 174 mandals.
Godavari basin
Officials monitoring the position of inflows into the minor irrigation tanks stated that rainfall in the Godavari Basin areas has been more compared to the Krishna Basin areas. “Mahabubabad has highest number of tanks, 612, which received surplus inflows this season followed by Bhadradri-Kothagudem (493), Jayashankar-Bhupalapally (285) and Kamareddy (200), all in Godavari Basin,” the officials stated.
Other districts which have good number of tanks that received surplus inflows included Adilabad (97), Warangal-Rural (79) and Nizambad (73) in Godavari Basin and Sangareddy (82), Medak (60) and Nalgonda (58) in Krishna Basin.
Contrasting scenario
However, quite in contrast to the minor irrigation tanks, the position of most of the other major water bodies including medium irrigation projects and lakes is comparatively better with Laknavaram, Nallavagu, Pocharam, Vattivagu, Nilwai, Taliperu, Kinnerasani, Wyra, Bayyaram and a few other projects/lakes attaining full reservoir level already and several other water bodies approaching their full capacity with the help of rains over the past one week.
Cultivation of crops in about 37.4 lakh hectares taken up already this season goes in tune with the overall rainfall position. It is over 3 lakh hectares higher compared to the actual extent during the same period last year.
However, water levels in no major project, particularly in the Krishna Basin, in the State permit release of water for irrigation due to insufficient and negligible inflows this year.
