Rainfall 20% below normal hits 17 Khammam mandals, groundwater drops and fodder shortage worsens

Seventeen of Khammam’s 21 mandals recorded rainfall about 20% below normal, pushing the district into severe and moderate drought conditions. Ten mandals face severe drought while seven are under moderate stress, District Collector Divakara T.S. said on Friday. Groundwater levels have slipped from 2.5 metres below ground last season to 3.56 metres now. In Kamepalli, Yerrupalem, Sattupalli and Enkur mandals, groundwater fell an additional 5 to 10 metres because of weak rains during the El Nino spell. Recent cyclone‑induced showers gave a slight rise, but the Collector warned that further depletion is likely in the coming weeks.

Reaction

The Collector urged farmers to skip paddy in the upcoming Yasangi (rabi) season and switch to millets, pulses or other low‑water crops, noting that limited water must first meet drinking needs. Officials have sent proposals to secure extra water from the Nagarjunasagar Project for the district’s drinking supply in the next months.

What’s Next

Twelve mandals are already short of fodder. The administration is readying fodder seed distribution, as the shortage is expected to deepen over the next five months.

Context

Droughts in Telangana intensify during El Nino years, and the Nagarjunasagar Project often supplies essential drinking water to drought‑prone districts.