A severe El Niño phase has plunged 457 out of 621 mandals in Telangana into a critical drought-like situation, leaving major reservoirs dry. The acute water shortage has also crippled hydroelectricity generation across the Krishna and Godavari basins, raising serious agricultural concerns.
Key Takeaways
- Nearly 74% of Telangana's mandals (457 out of 621) are facing severe drought-like conditions.
- Major reservoirs in the Krishna and Godavari basins have failed to receive even 5 tmc ft of floodwater so far.
- Hydroelectric power generation has plummeted to near-zero levels due to empty reservoirs, worsening the power crisis.
The severe impact of El Niño conditions is being felt acutely across Telangana and the upstream catchment areas of the Krishna and Godavari rivers in Karnataka and Maharashtra. This climate anomaly has severely disrupted Kharif cultivation in Telangana, keeping water levels in major, medium, and minor reservoirs at rock-bottom levels during what should be the peak monsoon season.
Scanty rainfall across the state has pushed nearly 74% (457) of the 621 mandals into a drought-like scenario. Official data reveals that 399 mandals recorded deficient rainfall (-20% to -59% against the normal), while 58 mandals received large deficient rainfall (-60% to -99%) up to July 26. This widespread deficit includes rural agricultural belts as well as parts of Hyderabad, threatening both irrigation and drinking water supplies.
Why This Matters
BozokMedia analysis shows that the dual blow of agricultural drought and a power deficit could trigger a wider economic slowdown in Southern India. As reservoir levels plunge, the state is forced to rely on expensive thermal power and external energy grids to meet the skyrocketing electricity demand, putting an immense financial strain on the state exchequer.
The water crisis is highly visible in the river basins. In the Godavari basin, none of the major and medium irrigation projects in Telangana have received even 5 tmc ft of flood inflows in nearly two months. The situation is similarly grim in the Krishna basin, where only the Nagarjunasagar project received about 20 tmc ft of inflows, primarily due to localized rains rather than upstream flows.
"The current water crisis in Telangana is a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities of our agricultural and energy infrastructure to global climate patterns like El Niño. Prudent water management is no longer optional; it is survival."
The energy sector has taken a massive hit. While power consumption in the state spiked to 6,699 million units (MU) in the first 25 days of July, hydel generation has virtually collapsed. In previous years, projects like Jurala and Srisailam contributed hundreds of millions of units of clean energy during July, but this year, generation has been nearly non-existent.
Historical Comparison of Hydel Power Generation (July in MU)
| Year | Jurala Hydel Generation | Srisailam Hydel Generation |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 71 MU | 150 MU |
| 2025-26 | 229 MU | 544 MU |
| 2026-27 (till July 25) | 0 MU | 0.09 MU |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How many mandals in Telangana are affected by the drought-like situation?
Out of 621 mandals in Telangana, 457 mandals (approximately 74%) are currently experiencing drought-like conditions due to deficient rainfall.
2. Why has hydroelectric power generation stopped in Telangana?
Hydroelectric generation has been hit hard because major reservoirs like Jurala and Srisailam have received almost zero inflows, leaving no water to run the turbines.