Telangana Water Crisis: reservoirs at decade-low levels have pushed the state into a critical situation. According to the latest report from the Central Water Commission (CWC), Telangana currently holds 32 percent less water than normal, placing it at the forefront of states with the lowest water reserves in the country. The total capacity of 166 reservoirs is 9,103.34 TMCs, but only 2,098.93 TMCs are available now. This severe shortage stems from a lack of rains, causing water levels in major reservoirs to fall to ten-year lows.
In eight major reservoirs of Telangana, current water reserves stand at 19.26 percent of capacity, but actual usable water is just 12.92 percent. The Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar reservoirs face similar distress. Notably, the Nirudu reservoir, which held 30.18 percent water during the same period last year, has now dropped to half that level. In contrast, neighboring Andhra Pradesh enjoys 21 percent more water reserves than normal, with no shortage thanks to diverted Krishna waters.
The critical Midmaneru reservoir under the Kaleswaram project now holds only 7.4 TMCs of water against its total capacity of 27.55 TMCs. This dam, once resembling a sea, has reached dead storage levels. Water can reach Hyderabad and Nalgonda from here only if lifted from Kaleshwaram. Across India, 11 reservoirs in the north also have below-normal water levels, but East, West, and Central India remain at normal levels.
The worsening Telangana water crisis demands immediate action. Without urgent awareness and focused water management by the government, drinking water could become scarce in the coming months. This dire situation underscores the need for sustainable solutions to prevent a full-blown disaster.