Narendra Kumar Varikuntla Kurnool

TheTungabhadra River, expected to swell with monsoon waters, instead presents a stark image of crisis in Kurnool district. Large stretches appear deserted amid critically low levels, while large-scale sand excavation continues. Villagers, farmers and nature lovers fear the activity will further deplete groundwater and worsen the already severe water shortage.

Drought-like conditions grip Kurnool and Nandyal districts after a disappointing southwest monsoon. Rainfall data till the first week of September reveal a 55.3 per cent deficit in Nandyal and 46.7 per cent in Kurnool. The prolonged dry spell has left rain-fed and irrigation-dependent farmers anxious about crop yields and mounting losses.

The shortage has severely affected KC Canal system, which supports nearly three lakh acres directly and another two lakh acres indirectly. Designed to supply 31.90 TMC, the canal is failing to reach lower stretches, causing paddy nurseries to dry up. Poor inflows into the Tungabhadra and Srisailam reservoirs have forced authorities to prioritise drinking water over irrigation.

Low river levels have also facilitated alleged illegal sand transportation. Villagers claim indiscriminate excavation at Munagalapadu and Panchalingala—neither identified as authorised reaches—threatens groundwater recharge and local ecology. They demand immediate intervention by the district administration to halt the activity.

Standing crops are under stress. Cotton farmers report poor flowering and boll formation, while delayed sowing of maize and red gram threatens yields. Declining soil moisture and falling borewell levels compound the difficulties. Drinking water supplies in several areas are also under strain as surface and groundwater resources dwindle.

Officials are monitoring stocks closely and prioritising drinking needs. Farmers hope for substantial rain in the coming weeks to boost reservoir inflows and recharge aquifers. Agricultural scientists are promoting drought-tolerant and less water-intensive crops, though farmers say the switch remains hard amid uncertain water availability. With the monsoon continuing to disappoint, the situation demands urgent measures to conserve water, protect groundwater and stop indiscriminate sand excavation.