Rayalaseema Farmers Worried Over No Inflows Into TB, Srisailam Reservoirs

 Kurnool: With the monsoon failing to pick up pace, farmers across Rayalaseema are increasingly anxious over the lack of irrigation water. Even as June is nearing its midpoint, there has been no significant rainfall. More alarmingly, not a single cusec of inflow has reached the major reservoirs of Tungabhadra and Srisailam. Both reservoirs depend heavily on rainfall in the upstream regions of Karnataka.

The situation is in stark contrast to last year. By June 15, 2025, Srisailam reservoir had around 60 TMC of water. Even after accounting for 37 TMC as dead storage, about 23 TMC had accumulated through inflows. Similarly, Tungabhadra reservoir held nearly 65 TMC during the same period last year.

At present, both these reservoirs have slipped to dead storage levels, with no scope of releasing water. Hydropower generation has remained suspended at both Tungabhadra and Srisailam for the past two months.

Tungabhadra reservoir is the lifeline for irrigation in Anantapur, Kurnool, and Nandyal districts. Srisailam, apart from power generation, supports irrigation needs through canals extending up to Kadapa. The absence of water in these key reservoirs has triggered deep concern among farmers.

“We can cultivate paddy only if water is released from Tungabhadra. Otherwise, we will face severe hardship,” said M. Narasimhappa, a farmer from Bommanahal mandal in Rayadurg constituency of Anantapur district.

Adding to the crisis, several medium and minor reservoirs in Kurnool and Nandyal districts are drying up. Avuku reservoir in Nandyal district with a full capacity of 4.148 TMC currently holds just 1.240 TMC. Gajuladinne project in Kurnool district has only 1.15 TMC against its 4.5 TMC capacity. Velugodu, the largest reservoir in Nandyal district with a capacity of 16.950 TMC, now contains just 1.995 TMC of water.

With reservoirs running dry and rains remaining elusive, farmers are hesitant about beginning sowing operations. The looming threat of El Niño has only heightened the fears of a weak monsoon.

Kurnool Irrigation department superintending engineer B. Balachandra Reddy said, “Water inflows depend entirely on rainfall in the upstream regions. The current situation is not encouraging. Even if conditions improve, priority will be given to drinking water and essential irrigation needs.”

Some farmers in parts of Kurnool and Nandyal districts, following scattered showers, have started raising nurseries relying on their borewells and open wells. Many among them are hoping that rains will arrive at least by July.

Nearly 8.40 lakh acres are expected to be cultivated during the kharif season in Kurnool and Nandyal districts alone. However, with the uncertainty looming, farmers remain apprehensive about the season ahead.