Water in Singur may last only till Dec 10, irrigation for 30 lakh acres at risk | Hyderabad News
Hyderabad: With reservoir levels plunging amid a severe rainfall deficit and the looming impact of El Niño, Telangana is staring at a difficult water management challenge. The state govt has estimated that available storage in key reservoirs may be insufficient to meet both drinking and irrigation needs, forcing it to prioritise drinking water while sharply curtailing irrigation releases.El Niño has emerged as a major concern for the govt, with estimates suggesting that water in the Singur reservoir may last until Dec 10 if current conditions persist. Faced with dwindling reserves, the state has concluded that it cannot supply irrigation water to the entire 30.56 lakh acres of ayacut dependent on reservoir releases.To balance competing demands, the govt has proposed releasing 47 tmc of water to provide irrigation to about seven lakh acres, while prioritising drinking water requirements. Irrigation support for the remaining ayacut will depend on future inflows and storage availability.The situation is particularly worrying at Singur reservoir, a key drinking water source for Hyderabad. Against its full capacity of 29.91 tmc, the reservoir currently holds only 3.21 tmc or 10.73% of capacity.Across Telangana, major and medium irrigation projects together hold just 179.63 tmc of usable water against the normal storage of 470.2 tmc, reflecting a shortage of nearly 62%. Irrigation releases are already 18% lower than last year, while no irrigation water is being supplied in 176 mandals spread across 19 districts.Given the constrained availability, the govt has proposed reserving available water primarily for drinking purposes until July 2027. Irrigation releases would be deferred in water-stressed areas, while protective irrigation for rain-fed crops would be considered only if surplus water remains available. Even the proposed 47 tmc release for seven lakh acres would be subject to drinking water needs and actual storage levels.The crisis extends beyond reservoirs. Nearly 40% of Telangana’s 44,034 tanks hold less than 25% of their capacity. Groundwater levels have also fallen sharply, with the average depth to groundwater increasing from 4.41 metres below ground level in Sept 2025 to 7.52 metres in Sept 2026, indicating a decline of 3.11 metres in the water table.For Hyderabad, the govt has prepared an alternative supply plan to bridge possible gaps in drinking water availability. The plan envisages drawing 40 MGD from the Godavari, 15 MGD through adjustments in Krishna supplies or additional pumping, and 5 MGD through enhanced pressure filtration at Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar.Additional support is proposed through Mission Bhagiratha networks, pipeline interconnections, diversions, pressure filters and repairs to electric borewells in the core urban region area.The water stress follows a significant rainfall deficit across the state. Telangana received 618.9 mm of rainfall between June 1 and Oct 23 against the normal 816.6 mm, a deficit of 24%. During the southwest monsoon season, rainfall stood at 615.5 mm against a normal 740.6 mm, a shortfall of 17%.The situation worsened in Oct, with the state receiving just 3.4 mm of rainfall against a normal 76 mm up to Oct 23, marking a steep deficit of 96%.
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