Andhra’s Rayalaseema stares at a drought due to deficit rainfall

Due to poor rainfall this monsoon, Rayalaseema region in Andhra Pradesh is staring at a drought-like situation. The groundwater level in the region has just risen to 0. 24% owing to the deficit rainfall. There is a deviation of 42% rainfall, according to the groundwater department. While the normal rainfall for the month of June in the region is 120 mm, the region has received only 68.80 mm rainfall so far. 

Water conservation activist, Bojja Dasaratha Rami Reddy, President of Rayalaseema Saguneeti Sadhana Samithi says that the water crisis in Kurnool district particularly in the west part of the region is severely affected by the crisis. 

"Drinking water problem in the regions of Dhone, Adoni, Alur, Pattikonda is getting severe. The poor rainfall is making the situation even worse," he said. 

The groundwater department officials say that the water crisis will deepen if the rainfall is inadequate this year too. "Last year too, there was a deficit of rainfall, but since we had a good spell in 2017 there was no water crisis, but if we don't receive good rainfall this year too then the region would be declared drought-affected," said an official from the groundwater department.

Expressing his helplessness, Deputy Director of Groundwater Vara Prasad said, "We are taking up several water conservation awareness programmes. If we have to handle this crisis, people should help in water conservation by digging rainwater harvest pits in every household."

According to the data provided by the government, groundwater level for Rayalaseema region for the month of June was recorded at 24.10 meters below ground level (bgl) compared to 16.3 meters (bgl).    

Not just Rayalaseema region, the entire state is witnessing a deficit rainfall of -42.70 mm. While the normal rainfall for the month of June is 120 mm, the state only received 92.90 mm so far. Throughout the state, the groundwater level increased by just 0.04 meters bgl. 

In May 2019, the state received just 24.3 mm rainfall against 137.8 mm. Similarly in June, the state received only 52.8 mm against the normal rainfall of 93.7 mm.