Water scarcity: Farmers slash area under cultivation in Palamuru

Mahbubnagar: Experts have warned that with fast-depleting ground water resources, the district is going to witness severe drought like situation and general public along with farmers are expected to face tough time if the government does not take immediate precautionary steps.

It’s been more than half a decade that the district had received adequate rains above normal and because of which, the ground water levels in the district have been falling. With summer season fast approaching, the demand for water would gradually increase manifold.

Experts observed that if the situation continues and if the district fails to receive normal rains for some more years, the situation will go from bad to worse and district would once again reel under severe drought.

“We had witnessed heavy rains in 2013, and it has been more than six years since then the district received adequate rains. We have seen many lakes and ponds, particularly in and around Mahbubnagar district gradually drying up and the ground water levels falling.

The tube wells drilled deep down more than 300 to 500 feet are also not finding water traces. Majority bore wells have already gone dry, and if the government fails to take precautionary steps, the district will have to face very tough time,” said Shankar, a farmer from Mangali Kunta village of Jadcherla mandal.

Already the farmers under Koilsagar, who had sown paddy in over 4,000 acres, are demanding for release of water, but the officials are not heeding to their requests stating that Koilsagar water was reserved for drinking purpose to Mahbubnagar people during summer. But the situation of farmers is pathetic as more than 20 per cent of paddy, maize and other crops have already been dried up due to lack of water.

If the situation continues and if the officials do not take any steps to protect the interests of the farmers, it is for sure that this summer, the yields of all crops will fall drastically and the farmers would have to face huge losses.

Some experts are of the view that the reason for the ground water going steeply down as below as 35 meters deep in some regions is because of provision of 24X7 free power by the government due to which the farmers are continuously drawing water from the tube wells. “Usually I used to sow two crops a year.

However, this year, I had sown only rainy season crop that to in one acre out of three and the yields have also fallen drastically. I am facing losses for the last two years now. All my four bore wells have gone dry and I have no option but give up my Rabi crop as it has already dried due to lack of water,” said Ramchander of Shankarayapally village in Mahbubnagar district.

Due to lack of water, as against the total cultivation of crop in over about 42,000 hectares, only 23,000 hectares has been taken up for agriculture. This clearly shows the extent of crop cultivation has fallen more than half and if no good rains are witnessed in the coming up days, it is for sure Mahbubnagar district will have to face severe drought ahead.