Sparse Inflows Into Srisailam and Tungabhadra Reservoirs Raise Severe Water Security Concerns
Persistent low water levels in the Srisailam and Tungabhadra reservoirs are raising alarms for the Rayalaseema region. With minimal monsoon inflows and storage near dead levels, farmers are facing a severe threat to their irrigation and drinking water security.
Highlights
- •Srisailam and Tungabhadra reservoirs are at critically low levels, causing widespread concern among regional farmers.
- •Srisailam reservoir currently holds only 42 TMC of water compared to its total 215.80 TMC capacity.
- •Inflows are minimal due to a weak southwest monsoon and lack of upstream contribution from Karnataka.
- •Authorities warn that significant, heavy rainfall in catchment areas is vital to avoid a major water crisis in Rayalaseema.
Concerns are growing among agricultural communities as Srisailam and Tungabhadra reservoirs face alarmingly low water levels. The expected seasonal accumulation, which typically sees these projects near capacity by late June, has failed to materialize, leading to significant anxiety for farmers and water resource officials alike. Water security in the region is currently under threat due to the lack of substantial inflows.
Compared to the same period last year, when Srisailam had already received enough water to initiate power generation by early July, the current situation is starkly different. Data from the Water Resources department indicates that the minimal water currently held is the result of scattered, localized rainfall rather than a robust, widespread southwest monsoon. The failure of upstream contributions remains the primary obstacle to improving storage levels.
Critical Water Shortage Impacting Agriculture
The technical data highlights the severity of the crisis. The Srisailam dam, which has a full reservoir level of 885 feet, is currently hovering around 821 feet—placing it within the dead storage range. Out of its total capacity of 215.80 TMC, the facility is holding a mere 42 TMC. Superintending Engineer B. Balachandra Reddy noted that despite minor local showers bringing in roughly 6,750 cusecs, the volumes are entirely insufficient to sustain necessary irrigation or regional power output.
The Tungabhadra project is facing similar distress, receiving a marginal inflow of about 319 cusecs. To address critical drinking water shortages in Ballari, the dam is releasing 380 cusecs, even though storage is already perilously low. Last year, by June 20, the dam recorded inflows exceeding 14,600 cusecs, illustrating a dramatic and unfavorable shift in water availability for the 2026 season.
Local farmers, such as N. Thimmappa from Bommanahal, emphasize that these reservoirs serve as the essential lifeline for Rayalaseema. The agricultural sector remains fearful that if substantial rainfall does not occur in the upper catchment areas of Karnataka by early July, the impact on upcoming planting seasons could be severe. Authorities suggest that the weak onset of the monsoon, potentially influenced by El Niño conditions, is likely responsible for the lack of replenishment. As the region navigates this period of water security uncertainty, the reliance on heavy, widespread rainfall remains the only viable path to securing the future of local irrigation and municipal needs.
