Rains may lift sowing operations to normal

Sowing operations in the current Kharif season, though delayed, are expected to touch normal levels, thanks to the widespread rains lashing many parts of Andhra Pradesh for the past three days.

Rainfall in the predominantly rainfed parts of Telangana and Rayalaseema regions during the season has either touched or gone beyond the normal levels, and is likely to boost the acreage of rainfed crops.

So far, sowing operations have been completed in only 53 per cent of the normal area of 78 lakh hectares. The current spell of rains, which is being termed as the best in spread, is expected to help farmers take up paddy and oilseeds operations as well.

Crops which are way behind in sowing operations include paddy, cotton and oilseeds. Of this, paddy plantations have been completed in just 20 per cent of the normal area of 23 lakh hectares, as per the government figures.

According to the information compiled by the revenue department, the state has received an average rainfall of 17 mm, 31 mm and 19 mm for the past three days respectively, mainly covering 12 districts. Average cumulative rainfall during the season has been 270.1 mm as compared to the cumulative normal rainfall of 273.1 mm as on Monday.

Incessant rains have caused breaches to several irrigation tanks besides inundating low-lying areas in several places including Hyderabad, thereby hitting normal life. Over nine deaths have been reported in house collapses and other rain related accidents. The figure is expected to go up, according to D Prasada Rao, state revenue minister who apprised the media of the situation.

The low inflows into the important reservoirs in the Krishna and Godavari basins in Andhra Pradesh are unlikely to cause any flood situation along the river banks below these reservoirs in the next few days, officials said.

Water levels in the reservoirs of Krishna, except Almatti in upper reaches, are yet to touch the FRL (full reservoir level). Water levels in Srisailam reservoir is just touching 831.50 ft as compared to the FRL of 885 feet and inflows are still at a meagre 37,160 cusecs coming from Narayanapur in Karnataka and from intermittent catchments.

To fill the Nagarjuna Sagar reservoir, irrigation officials would discharge waters from Srisailam once the inflows and water levels reach a much higher levels. The situation is almost similar with regard to the reservoirs of Godavari basin.

Meanwhile, the state government today issued orders to create canal systems costing about Rs 89 crore under Singur project in Medak district to provide water for the ayacut of 40,000 acres. The government cut 2 tmc for the purpose from over 7 tmc being supplied to Hyderabad for drinking water purpose. The additional water for Hyderabad is being augmented from the Krishna river.

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Showering blessings

• To boost acreage of rainfed crops
• Help farmers take up paddy and oilseeds operations too
• Rs 89-crore canal systems under Singur project to provide water for ayacut of 40,000 acres