Water crisis in Telangana despite excess rainfall as Congress dries up Kaleshwaram

HYDERABAD: It is official now. Telangana is going to face a drought-like situation as the State braces itself to face a harsh summer.

The confirmation came from the horse's mouth on Wednesday when Chief Minister Revanth Reddy said that the State was staring at drought-like conditions with water levels depleting in all reservoirs. He called upon farmers to understand the situation and extend their cooperation to Government to collectively face and overcome the problem.

"The farmers of Karimnagar, Khammam, Nalgonda, Mahbubnagar among others have been demanding release of water from reservoirs. I am urging the farmers to understand the situation. The State Government is trying to ensure that there is no drinking water scarcity in the ensuing summer," the Chief Minister told farmers on Wednesday.

Interestingly, the Chief Minister blamed deficit rainfall last year which led to depleted water levels in all the reservoirs leading to water scarcity.

However contrary to this, reports in October 2023 revealed that Telangana had received 12 per cent excess rainfall. According to data from Telangana State Development Planning Society (TSDPS), Telangana received 866.8mm of rainfall in 2023 against the normal of 776.9mm, an excess of 12 per cent.

The State had received rainfall across 60 rainy days last year, which is higher than State’s usual average of 48 rainy days.

Pointing this anomaly, BRS working president KT Rama Rao (KTR) took to X and said, "“The Congress, which came to power with lies and false promises, is now making unfounded statements to cover up its failures. The people of Telangana are disgusted by their behaviour after coming to power. Within three months after the Congress assumed power, the farmers of Telangana are now fully aware of its inefficiency to address their problems.”

Why the water scarcity then?

The problem lies in the Congress Government's decision to let out water from the Kaleshwaram project.

The previous BRS Government had protected the standing crops by supplying water by filling all irrigation projects with Kaleshwaram water. Earlier, water used to be lifted from Medigadda and dumped in the Yellampalli project, from where it was taken to Mid Manair by filling the Nandi reservoir and operating the Gayatri pump house.

Besides the Lower Manair Dam, water used to be supplied to the Ranganayak Sagar in Siddipet district from the Mid Manair Dam. Before the construction of the Kaleshwaram project, the Sri Ram Sagar Project (SRSP) was a major water source for the Yellampalli project. After completion of Kaleshwaram, water was lifted from Medigadda especially in the Yasangi season to protect standing crops.

Presently, it is not possible to draw water from River Godavari since water was let out from the three barrages of Sundilla, Annaram and Meddigadda following the sinking of three pillars at Medigadda.

Hyderabad staring at water crisis

Hyderabad is also expected to face a water crisis as the officials said that in addition to the existing 550 million gallons per day, an additional water supply of 50 million gallons per day is needed for the city.

For now, Hyderabad is getting its water from Osman Sagar, Himayat Sagar, Krishna, Godavari and Manjeera.

Minister Ponnam Prabhakar ordered the officials to fetch water from the Yellampalli project if needed.

The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) is also pumping water daily from the Nagarjuna Sagar.