Rayalaseema Samithi Wants CM Naidu To Ensure Water Security at Srisailam
Dasaratharama Reddy stressed that drinking water and agricultural needs should be given priority over power generation in accordance with provisions of Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act.
ANANTAPUR: Rayalaseema Sagu Neeti Sadhana Samithi has urged Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to take immediate policy decisions on the management of Srisailam Reservoir to ensure long-term drinking water and irrigation security for the drought-prone Rayalaseema region.
In a letter addressed to the CM on Friday, samithi president Bojja Dasaratharama Reddy suggested that Chandrababu Naidu take up the issue with the central government, seeking its political intervention. The samithi president accused the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) and Central Water Commission (CWC) of failing to effectively protect the water rights of backward regions.
Further, Dasaratharama Reddy submitted a copy of the representation to Water Resources department deputy chief engineer B. Mahesh in Kurnool, explaining the severity of the water crisis in Rayalaseema. He underlined that farmers have suffered heavy losses during the 2026 Kharif season due to poor rainfall in June and July.
“While farmers initially took up cultivation of dry crops and some raised paddy nurseries, cessation of rainfall from August resulted in the drying up of nurseries and prevented several farmers from undertaking paddy transplantation. The expected yield in many areas was unlikely to exceed 10 to 20 per cent of normal production,” the samithi president maintained.
Questioning the management of Srisailam reservoir water, he said around 2,259 TMC feet of Krishna water had flowed into the system during 2025–26. In May 31, 2026, the reservoir should have retained a minimum water level of 854 feet, as prescribed under the Bachawat Tribunal guidelines, along with an additional 60 TMC feet of carry-over storage.
Dasaratharama Reddy protested that the Srisailam authorities had failed to maintain the stipulated storage, leaving the reservoir with nearly 60 TMC feet less of water than the required minimum. He termed this aspect as discrimination against Rayalaseema.
He further pointed out that around 218 TMC feet of water has flowed into the reservoir so far during 2026–27. But adequate measures have not been taken to conserve the water.
The samithi president accused Telangana authorities of continuing to release water for power generation from the Srisailam left-bank hydel power station, despite KRMB's recommendation to preserve water for meeting the future drinking water requirements.
“Had the water been conserved in the reservoir, it could have served the drinking and irrigation needs of Rayalaseema, Prakasam, Nellore, Mahabubnagar, and Nagarjuna Sagar ayacut areas,” he maintained.
Dasaratharama Reddy asked Chandrababu Naidu to ensure that the Srisailam reservoir maintains a minimum water level of 854 feet, along with 60 TMC feet of carry-over storage. He demanded that power generation be regulated strictly in accordance with the Bachawat Tribunal provisions. He underlined that water should not be released for power generation under any circumstances other than for meeting the requirements of the Nagarjunasagar ayacut.
The samithi president stressed that drinking water and agricultural needs should be given priority over power generation in accordance with provisions of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act.
Dasaratharama Reddy emphasised that Rayalaseema needs a permanent solution to its recurring water crisis, rather than temporary compensation for crop-loss whenever drought struck.
