Srisailam, Nagarjunasagar worst-hit by drought

By Our Special CorrespondentHYDERABAD, SEPT. 14. No reservoir under the three major river basins in the State -- Krishna, Godavari and Pennar -- have reached their full reservoir levels this year.

In fact, barring Jurala on Krishna river, no reservoir had even reached the level of the corresponding day of 2000 as on September 13, according to a note on the drought situation tabled by the Revenue Minister, Mr. P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju, in the Assembly on Friday.

The two largest reservoirs, Nagarjunasagar and Srisailam are worst affected by the deficit rainfall. Water level in Nagarjunasagar stood at 521 ft against the full reservoir level of 590 ft while it was 815 ft in Srisailam (FRL 885), Tungabhadra 1,630 ft (1,633 ft), Jurala 1,035 ft (1045 ft), Sriramsagar 1,085 ft (1,091 ft), Singur 1,707 ft (1,717 ft), Nizamsagar 1,378 ft (1,405 ft), Somasila 255 ft (330 ft) and Kandaleru 199 ft (278 ft).

The note said that there was shortfall of 27 per cent in the actual rainfall till yesterday with the State receiving 395 mm against the normal of 537.4 mm. Except Hyderabad (plus two per cent) and Guntur (plus four percent), there was deficiency all over the State.

The deviation from normal was as high as 58 per cent in Anantapur, 54 per cent in Nellore, 49 per cent in Kurnool, 46 per cent in Cuddapah and 40 per cent in West Godavari. Region-wise, Rayalaseema accounted for a deficit of 47 per cent, Coastal Andhra 26 per cent and Telangana 23 per cent.

Although the monsoon set in earlier than expected, there was a dry spell in almost all districts ranging from 20 to 45 days resulting in reduction in cropped areas, damage to paddy nurseries, large-scale unemployment, drinking water shortage and fodder scarcity.

The total cropped area remained at 64.86 lakh hectares against the normal area of 83.23 lakh hectares leaving a deficit of 23 per cent. Paddy crop was badly hit with the area sown being 18.42 lakh hectares against the normal area of 27.11 lakh hectares.

Referring to the relief measures, the note pointed out that a memorandum seeking assistance to the tune of Rs. 849.14 crores was submitted to the Centre after declaring 22 districts drought- affected. In addition, the Centre was also requested to release 6 lakh tonnes of rice free of cost for taking up the food-for-work programme.

The Centre had since released 3 lakh tonnes of rice out of which 1.50 lakh tonnes had been lifted by the Civil Supplies Corporation. The remaining stocks would be lifted before this month-end to avoid lapsing.

On its part, the State Government had released a sum of Rs. 115.84 crores from the Calamity Relief Fund towards wage employment (Rs. 32 crores), rural water supply (Rs. 53 crores), urban water supply (Rs. 20 crores), fodder seed subsidy (Rs. 3 crores) and agriculture seed supply (Rs. 7.84 crores).

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Section  : Southern States
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