After a poor Kharif season, the agriculture activity is slowly picking up for the Rabi but dipping water levels in Nagarjunasagar and Pulichintala projects are a cause of concern among farmers in the Krishna delta region.
As on date, the storage in Nagarjunasagar project is 130.32 tmc ft as against the full capacity of 312 tmc ft. Likewise, the water level in Pulichintala project too has hit rock bottom at 0.7 tmc ft against the full capacity of over 35 tmc ft.
Added to this precarious situation, the region recorded 55 per centdeficit rainfall. The South-West monsoon retreated by October 18 and the North-East monsoon rains commenced over Tamil Nadu, Kerala and adjoining area of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka only early this week.
The average rainfall received from October 1 to 28 is 68.2 mm as against the normal rainfall of 151.4 mm. In all, sowing has to be taken up in 25.21 lakh hectares during the entire Rabi season in the State. However , the total area sown is only 2.36 lakh hectares till now as against the 2.85 lakh hectares (83%) to be covered under the period, according to agriculture authorities. In addition to the irrigation requirements, authorities are also worried about the drinking water requirements in the Krishna delta. Agriculture Minister P. Pulla Rao said a requisition has been made by the Irrigation Department to the Krishna River Management Board to release 5 tmc ft of water for drinking water requirements this season in the delta.
About irrigation requirements, Mr. Rao said the government was making all arrangements to ensure timely supply of water. By the month-end, nearly 2700 cusecs of water would be supplied through Pattiseema Lift Irrigation project, he said.
