Amaravati, Jul 21 (PTI) Andhra Pradesh Irrigation Minister N Ramanaidu on Tuesday said that the “super El Nino ravaging irrigation and agriculture on a global scale” has affected water flow in the Godavari River in a manner unseen in the past 70 years, with flow dwindling to 20,000 cusecs in July.
Citing irrigation experts, Ramanaidu underscored that under normal conditions, the flow will be between 1 lakh and 2 lakh cusecs (cubic feet per second) in July.
“Irrigation experts are saying that Godavari River water flows have reached as low as 15,000 to 20,000 cusecs in July for the first time in the last 70 years. Around this time, between 1 lakh and 2 lakh cusecs of water flow will usually be realised,” said Ramanaidu.
Because of the super El Nino phenomenon, water availability is less for us, he said. Normally, 3,000 TMC (Thousand Million Cubic) feet of Godavari River water will drain into the sea annually, he added.
As a result of lower flow in the river, the government is sourcing water from Sileru to meet the irrigation needs in the Godavari Delta region, where up to 10.17 lakh acres are being cultivated, he said.
According to the Minister, Sileru water is usually tapped only for the Rabi crop during March and April.
Recently, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu highlighted that the southern state logged 49 per cent deficit rainfall this year.
Despite these conditions, Ramanaidu underlined that 14,800 cusecs of water is being supplied to the Godavari Delta for irrigation.
However, he said the farther regions of the Godavari Delta continue to face problems in getting irrigated as the irrigation infrastructure in this region, as well as in the Krishna Delta were designed in such a way that 70 per cent of the area would be fed through the canal network and the remaining 30 per cent by rainwater.
Due to the lack of rainwater, he said both the deltas are under stress and totally reliant on canal water now.
To solve the problem of supplying water to the farther regions as much as possible, he said maintenance works are being carried out, and the blockages are being removed.
Further, the Irrigation Minister highlighted that elevated areas in the Godavari Delta may not receive water but noted that the remaining 90 per cent will receive water.
Barring the 10 per cent of land in the higher altitudes, the remaining 90 per cent of fields will be given water to cultivate in the Kharif season, and arrangements for this will be made in coordination with the district collectors and revenue and irrigation departments, said Ramanaidu. PTI STH ADB
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