Godavari Delta Water Security Assured Despite 70 Percent Rainfall Deficit

Irrigation Reserves Secure Against Rainfall Shortage

State officials have moved to allay fears regarding agricultural water shortages in the Godavari delta, despite a significant 70 percent drop in rainfall compared to the previous July. K. Narasimha Murthy, Engineer-in-Chief for the Water Resources Department, stated on Saturday that the region remains resilient against El Niño impacts. While monsoon rains typically provide 70 percent of the delta's irrigation needs, current river inflows and storage are expected to bridge the deficit.

As of July 25, the daily release into the delta reached 14,700 cusecs. This distribution includes:

• Eastern Delta: 4,900 cusecs
• Central Delta: 2,800 cusecs
• Western Delta: 7,000 cusecs

Resource Management and Storage Capacity

Addressing the press at Dowleswaram, Narasimha Murthy and Superintendent Engineer G. Srinivas highlighted that the Polavaram Irrigation Project currently holds 23 tmc ft. Furthermore, daily inflows at Bhadrachalam are steady at 60,000 cusecs. These volumes are deemed sufficient to support the 10.30 lakh acres requiring irrigation across the delta. The land usage breaks down into 8.25 lakh acres for paddy, with the remainder dedicated to aquaculture and coconut plantations.

Upland Strategies and Sileru Inflows

Despite the optimistic outlook for the delta, water officials are urging farmers in the upland regions of the former East and West Godavari districts to adapt. The department recommends planting short-duration paddy varieties or switching to alternative crops to mitigate risks. Regarding inter-state water sharing, Narasimha Murthy noted that Andhra Pradesh holds rights to 30 tmc ft from the Sileru river. However, low inflows into Sileru from Odisha present a growing concern for long-term hydropower generation capability.

Source: The Hindu — National