Rayalaseema drought: YSRCP accuses Andhra govt of total failure on water, fodder crisis
Synopsis
YSRCP has accused the Andhra Pradesh coalition government of having no contingency plan as Rayalaseema's drought deepens — kharif sowing is down to 39–40%, groundwater has fallen 12–20 metres, and milk output has crashed 75%. The party is threatening a protest at Srisailam if the government does not immediately redirect water to the region's irrigation and drinking-water schemes.
Key Takeaways
YSRCP accused the Andhra Pradesh coalition government of failing drought-hit Rayalaseema on 28 August .
Kharif cultivation in the region is restricted to just 39–40% of normal levels; groundwater has dropped 12–20 metres .
Milk production has fallen by nearly 75% due to a shortage of green fodder, according to YSRCP.
Telangana has released nearly 53 TMC from Srisailam for power generation; YSRCP demands at least 30–40 TMC be diverted to Rayalaseema projects via Pothireddypadu .
The previous YSRCP government reportedly paid ₹8,600 crore in crop insurance premiums and ₹11,000 crore in input subsidies; farmers are now allegedly paying premiums themselves.
YSRCP has warned of an agitation at the Srisailam project if the government does not act.
The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) on Friday, 28 August accused the coalition government in Andhra Pradesh of completely failing to respond to the severe drought gripping Rayalaseema, alleging that farmers in the region have been left without irrigation water, drinking water, or fodder support. The charges were levelled at a press conference held at the YSRCP district office in Anantapur.
Scale of the Crisis
YSRCP leader Anantha Venkatarami Reddy and former minister Sake Sailajanath said kharif cultivation across Rayalaseema had been restricted to just 39–40% of normal levels. Groundwater tables have reportedly fallen by 12–20 metres, while milk production has declined by nearly 75% due to a severe shortage of green fodder, they added.
Srisailam Water Releases Under Fire
Reddy alleged the government had no contingency plan despite prior warnings over El Niño and a mounting rainfall deficit. He pointed out that Telangana had released nearly 53 TMC of water from Srisailam for power generation while Andhra Pradesh remained silent, even as Rayalaseema's water crisis deepened.
Sailajanath warned that with Srisailam storage declining to around 160 TMC, continued releases for power generation would leave Rayalaseema projects and the Handri-Neeva scheme without water. 'Electricity could be purchased, but lost water could not be recovered,' he said. The leaders demanded the immediate diversion of at least 30–40 TMC through Pothireddypadu to Telugu Ganga, Handri-Neeva, drinking-water systems, and other Rayalaseema projects.
Farmers Left Without Safety Net, Says YSRCP
Reddy recalled that the previous YSRCP government had paid approximately ₹8,600 crore towards crop insurance premiums and ₹11,000 crore as input subsidy to farmers. In contrast, he alleged, farmers are now being forced to pay insurance premiums themselves — even for crops drying up under drought conditions — with no compensatory support from the current administration.
Demands and Warning of Escalation
The YSRCP leaders demanded that the government restrain what they called wasteful water releases for power generation, provide compensation to drought-affected farmers, and urgently address the fodder and drinking-water shortages. They assured farmers that YSRCP would stand with them and warned that if the government failed to act, the party was prepared to intensify its agitation — including a protest at the Srisailam project.
This comes amid a broader pattern of opposition pressure on the ruling coalition over its handling of agrarian distress in the drought-prone districts of southern Andhra Pradesh. Rayalaseema, historically vulnerable to rain deficit years, has faced recurring water crises, but critics argue the current response has been notably slow given the scale of the shortfall.
Point of View
But the political context matters: this is an opposition party attacking a coalition that displaced it, and the figures cited — groundwater decline, milk output crash, kharif shortfall — come from a party release, not independent agronomic surveys. That said, Rayalaseema's structural water vulnerability is well-documented, and the Srisailam releases question is a legitimate policy flashpoint between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The deeper issue the coverage risks missing is that crop insurance reform and input subsidy continuity are state-level policy choices, not just budget line items — and whichever party governs, the region's farmers have historically been the last to benefit and the first to absorb losses in a bad monsoon year.
NationPress
28 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the drought situation in Rayalaseema, Andhra Pradesh?
Rayalaseema is experiencing a severe drought, with kharif cultivation reportedly down to 39–40% of normal levels, groundwater tables falling 12–20 metres, and milk production declining by nearly 75% due to green fodder shortages. The YSRCP has alleged the state government has no contingency plan to address the crisis.
What is the controversy over Srisailam water releases?
YSRCP leaders allege that Telangana released nearly 53 TMC of water from the Srisailam reservoir for power generation while Andhra Pradesh remained silent, even as Rayalaseema faced a water crisis. With Srisailam storage at around 160 TMC, continued releases could leave key Rayalaseema irrigation and drinking-water projects dry.
What are YSRCP's demands from the Andhra Pradesh government?
YSRCP has demanded the immediate diversion of 30–40 TMC through Pothireddypadu to Telugu Ganga, Handri-Neeva, and other Rayalaseema projects. The party has also called for farmer compensation, a halt to wasteful power-generation releases, and urgent action on fodder and drinking-water shortages.
How does the current situation compare to the previous YSRCP government's support?
YSRCP leaders claim their government paid approximately ₹8,600 crore in crop insurance premiums and ₹11,000 crore in input subsidies to farmers. They allege that under the current coalition, farmers are being made to pay insurance premiums themselves even for drought-damaged crops.
What action has YSRCP threatened if the government does not respond?
YSRCP has warned it will intensify its agitation if the government fails to act, including staging a protest at the Srisailam project. Party leaders assured farmers of continued support and called the government's inaction unacceptable given the scale of the drought.
