Andhra Pradesh registers rainfall deficit, faces drinking water crisis
In coastal regions, Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts, have been suffering from less rains and have been listed in the deficit category.
VISAKHAPATNAM: Southwest monsoon has been giving a different picture across Andhra Pradesh now. Even after completion of two crucial months in the present rainy season, seven out of 13 districts are still looking at the sky for rains.
According to the statistics, except for Prakasam, no other district received good rainfall. Out of a total of 676 mandals in the district, 300 mandals have been suffering from scanty/deficit rainfall since the past two months.
For the first time in the state, a different situation has been prevailing acro-ss the state with normal, deficit and scanty rainfall even in the adjacent mandals. The situation is ala-rming in Chittoor, Kada-pa, Kurnool, Anantapur, Nellore, Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts. With scanty and deficit rainfall in the seven districts, Kharif works have not yet begun in majority of the mandals .
According to the climate statistics, even the actual rainfall was below 20 per cent against the normal rainfall. A 20 per cent rainfall and above is considered as deficit and that above 40 is considering as scanty. There are a large number of mandals that have been facing tough times to get drinking water due to lack of groundwater.
In coastal regions, Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts, have been suffering from less rains and have been listed in the deficit category. Nellore and four Rayalaseema districts — Chittoor, Kadapa, Anantapur and Kurnool — have also suffered from deficit rainfall.
The farmers have kick-started Kharif works in Visakhapatnam, East, West Godavari, Krishna, and Guntur districts. Even in the districts where normal rainfall was registered, several mandals are under deficit category.
In the six districts, where normal rainfall was registered from Visakhapatnam to Gun-tur, the rural and agency pockets received good rains and farmers have begun Kharif cultivation.
Not only cultivation works, in majority of the mandals in Visakhapatnam, Chittoor, Anantapur, Kurnool and Kadapa districts, the groundwater table is in an alarming situation and people are facing tough time to get drinking water.
“Yes, this monsoon season has been giving a differential picture in the state. In fact, the monsoon, even lately spread, has been continuing actively. But due to lack of cool wind, there are no rains. Out of four rainy season months, from June to September, two months are over and hope good rains will be received in August and September. In fact, during June and July rains, the soil suck the rainwater and the soil is ready to increase the groundwater. But in several districts, even the soil is not yet ready due to poor rains,” one of the Scientists of Indian Mete-orological Department (IMD) said.
Meanwhile, the situation in Greater Visakha-patnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) is very alarming as there were no rains during the past two months.
Visakhapatnam Urban, Rural, Gajuwaka, Pedagantyada, Anaka-palle and Bheemili have been suffering from scanty rainfall.
In Chittoor district, 18 mandals have been suffering from scanty rainfall.
Rayalaseema districts and Nellore have been suffering from scanty/deficit rainfall.
Khariff works have begun in East, West, Krishna and Guntur districts while partial works were begun in Srika-kulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam districts.