Hyderabad: Though the rainy season is halfway over, both Telangana State and Andhra Pradesh are facing severe rainfall deficiency.
The latest report from the Indian Meteorological Department indicates a drought-like situation in Telangana with 50 per cent less rainfall recorded in the Long Period Average (LPA).
As per the IMD data, from June 1 to August 12, the rainfall figures have not shown any improvement.
Telangana recorded a -51 per cent departure from the LPA, Coastal Andhra a -36 per cent departure, and Rayalaseema a -28 per cent departure from LPA, indicating deficit rainfall in all the regions.
Rayalaseema’s rainfall figures have actually worsened since June, when it had shown just -9 per cent departure from LPA and had chances of being categorised as “normal”.
But by August, it had reached the “deficit” stage.
In Coastal AP, the figures improved from -69 per cent to -36 per cent, which is from “scanty” to “deficit”, whereas Telangana remained constant.
Meteorological officials predicted that the rainfall situation would not improve if the negative trend in the Indian Ocean Dipole continued.
“The Indian Ocean Dipole trend is unfavourable for rainfall here. There could be excess rainfall by the end of August if the El Nino and Indian Ocean Dipole neutralise by August 15,” said K. Seetharam, an IMD scientist.
As per data released by the National Agromet Advisory Service Bulletin, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, AP, about 8.92 lakh ha area has been covered so far under different crops against a normal area of 41.70 lakh ha.
In Telangana, about 18.77 lakh ha area is covered as against a normal sowing area of 40.38 lakh ha.
While irrigation under Krishna-based projects looks better, it is gloomy for Godavari based projects except in the Godavari Delta.
The 2014 Kharif season under the assured canal irrigation systems in both Telangana State and AP does not appear to be comfortable.
The Sriram Sagar project has still not received inflows, causing serious concerns in Adilabad, Nizamabad, Karimnagar and Warangal districts.
Nizam Sagar Dam and Singur Dam also have not received any water.
Singur caters to the drinking water needs of Hyderabad besides supplying irrigation water in Medak.
With regard to Krishna-based projects in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, the situation is somewhat better.
There is enough water for crops under Jurala in Telangana.
The inflows in Tungabhadra are vacillating, however, the dam has reached its full capacity.
The Almatti too has reached its full level.
With regard to the Srisailam dam, the authorities are managing the inflows by simultaneously releasing waters to Srisailam Right branch canal, Telugu Ganga and for Madras water supply projects under Rayalaseema.
